Durham tells police to accept Mexican ID

[struggle4progress]

DURHAM -- Durham's police and other civic departments will recognize identification cards issued by the Mexican consulate as a valid ID.

Durham's city council voted 5-2 to tell city employees to treat the Matricula Consular de Alta Seguridad (MCAS) Consular Identification Card the same as other official identification.

It's an identification card issued by the Government of Mexico through its consulate offices to Mexican citizens residing outside of Mexico regardless of their emigration status. The card is accepted as ID by many police departments nationwide, and many banks accept it for financial transactions.

Police Chief Jose Lopez says officers have been accepting the Mexican IDs for the three years he's held his job. He said the city council's move would build support among the city's Hispanic residents, who have grown more willing to cooperate with police ...

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7791569

[struggle4progress]

1. Foreign Government IDs Not Likely Accepted In Parts Of Triad Anytime Soon

Justin Quesinberry
Created: 11/16/2010 5:53:21 PM
Updated: 11/16/2010 6:39:04 PM

... Police in Durham said it will help with investigations and enforcement, but that's not a feeling shared by some law enforcement officers in the Triad.

"I'm sure the people who were pushing this idea were well-intended, but I think in the best case they're misinformed about the validity of the Matricula cards," said Randy Jones of the Alamance County Sheriff's Office.

"I believe everybody deserves to have some sort of identification with them," said Manuel Cervantes, who got a Matricula Consular card issued to him in September by the Mexican government.

He said his driver's license expired and can't get a new one because he does not have all the documentation now needed ...

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=150673&catid=57