Homeland Security accepts fake ID
The Department of Homeland Security allowed a man
to enter its headquarters last week using a fake Matricula Consular card as
identification, despite federal rules that say the Mexican-issued card is not
valid ID at government buildings.
The Department of Homeland Security allowed a man to enter its headquarters last week using a fake Matricula Consular card as identification, despite federal rules that say the Mexican-issued card is not valid ID at government buildings.
Bruce DeCell, a retired New York City police officer, used his phony card — which lists his place of birth as “Tijuana, B.C.” and his address as “123 Fraud Blvd.” on an incorrectly spelled “Staton Island, N.Y.” — to enter the building Wednesday for a meeting with DHS officials.
Mr. DeCell said he has had the card for four years and has used it again and again to board airliners and enter government buildings, without being turned down once. But he said he was surprised that DHS, the agency in charge of determining secure IDs, accepted it.
“Obviously, it’s not working,” Mr. DeCell said.
In addition to being a forgery obtained for him from a street vendor in California, Mr. DeCell’s card was modeled on an older version, which the Mexican government publicly acknowledges is not a secure document. The Mexican government says the old-style cards “are no longer valid.”
Some members of Congress tried to crack down on use of the card, particularly as valid ID for opening a bank account, but the Bush administration opposed that effort.
The greatest absurdity still lies with the silly people who persist in swearing this administration knows how to accomplish anything useful!
Posted: Tue - June 13, 2006 at 06:47 AM