RE: Letter to the Members of the House of Representatives in Support of the Oxley-Frank amendment on Matricula Consular ID Cards
Dear Representative:
On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union and its more than 400,000 members, we write to urge you to vote for the Oxley-Frank Amendment striking Section 216 of to the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriation Act for FY 2005, H.R. 5025.
Section 216 of this appropriations bill prohibits the Department of Treasury from implementing regulations, which provide for Mexico's matricula consular card to be used as a form of identification when opening a bank account or renting a safe deposit box.
According to Secretary of Treasury, John W. Snowe, ""Because this provision [Sec. 216] could drive large sections of the U.S. population to underground financial services, it would weaken the Government's ability to enforce our money laundering and terrorist financing laws."" Outlawing the use of the matricula consular card would leave millions of immigrants unable to open bank accounts forcing them to rely on illegal institutions, or institutions that charge exorbitant check cashing fees.
To issue a matricula consular card, the consulate requires specific information about each applicant. The Treasury Department reviewed and accepted the standards by which the matricula consular card is issued, and has stated that it is an acceptable form of identification for foreign nationals to use in the U.S.
The Bush administration has unequivocally voiced its opposition to Section 216 of the Transportation, Treasury Appropriations Bill and we ask that you support this important amendment.
Sincerely,
Laura W. Murphy,
Director, Washington Legislative Office
Timothy H. Edgar,
Legislative Counsel