Matricula consular cards pose a problem.
Mexico has recently been issuing its citizens “matricula consular” cards at its consulates in the United States. Many of the recipients are illegal aliens. The benefit is that with matricula consular cards, even illegal aliens can take advantage of basic services, such as accounts at some banks. Illegal aliens then need not carry much cash on their persons, and thus become less vulnerable to crime while visiting the United States.
Unfortunately, this program has its downsides. In Mexico’s system, a person can easily get multiple cards. There are reports that some non-Mexicans have obtained Mexican cards. Already many other Latin American countries have begun issuing such cards to their citizens in the United States, including those who are illegal aliens. (*) It should be clear that if the United States allows this program for the citizens of one foreign nation, the United States must allow the program for all foreign nations. Terrorists and drug smugglers will see this as a nice fat loophole to exploit.
Comprehensive immigration reform legislation is the long-term solution. Either the Mexican ID cards should be made worthless as legal ID in the US, or they should be strictly regulated by Congress. If legislation is not at hand, the downsides of the matricula consular cards will multiply. That would harm both the United States and foreign national visitors, both legal and illegal.