September 24, 2004

Reaction to Arnold's veto from south of the border

A top foreign relations official on Thursday lambasted California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's veto of legislation that would have allowed undocumented migrants to obtain a driver's licenses in the state...

Juan Bosco Mart�, general director for North American affairs with the Foreign Relations Secretariat (SRE) said in a press conference the Mexican government is very concerned by the action.

Bosco said the inability of undocumented workers to obtain a driver's license hurts all migrants in California, not just Mexicans.

"The Mexican government will continue to defend the interests of the Mexican community residing in California within the realm of the laws of the United States and California," he said...

Bosco said the Mexican government would continue to promote the use of consulate-issued I.D. cards to help give migrants in the United States a means of identification that they can use to obtain U.S. drivers' licenses, bank accounts and other services.

The SRE says the cards are accepted as valid identification in 33 U.S. states, 1,180 police departments and 178 banks, and that it has issued 2.2 million of them since March 2002.

For more on the Matricula Consular cards, see "Their money or your safety".

Posted to Immigration_dls at September 24, 2004 12:01 PM

Comments

The druggocratic government of Mexico continues to intervene illegally in our internal affairs. Traitoristic officials serve the interest of a hostile nation, by cooperating with such illegalities. These are hostile acts, by a foreign government which is suborned by drug-dealers.

Posted by: John S Bolton at September 25, 2004 12:44 AM

I want a Mexican driver's license. I want to go to Mexico and have all publications in English. I want free schooling in Mexico. I want free hospital care in Mexico. Deliver, President Fox.

Posted by: Ontario Emperor at September 27, 2004 07:20 AM