Sonoma County authorities say ID policy is working (Mexican consular cards)

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Source: SF Chronicle

Sonoma County officials say they've seen no increase in crime or traffic collisions since announcing a contentious policy that allows illegal immigrants to escape deportation if caught on minor infractions.

The policy allows local law enforcement to recognize cards issued to Mexican nationals through their country's consulate as valid identification, a policy followed by more than 1,000 police departments nationwide, San Francisco included.

Previously, if illegal immigrants, who cannot obtain California driver's licenses, were pulled over for minor infractions such as a broken tail light or running a stop sign, authorities had no choice but to arrest them, which often led to their deportation.

By accepting matricula consular cards as valid identification, authorities no longer have to arrest undocumented immigrants on traffic infractions that usually wouldn't warrant detainment, said Lt. Glenn Lawrence, a Sonoma County Sheriff's Department spokesman.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/25/BAOO1LPG6B.DTL

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Well, if those Mexicans have consular cards, could they not have applied for visas or residency? This article also quotes the chair of the San Francisco Republican Party who was injured by an undocumented driver.

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1. Hooray for good sense in Northern California.