Issuing of Mexican IDs draws protests

The call to protest the Mexican Consulate issuing identification cards and passports in North Charleston drew a handful of people Saturday.

Opponents of the practice hope their efforts will urge the General Assembly to pass a law against it.

For several years, the Raleigh-based Consulate General of Mexico -- which has oversight in the Carolinas -- has been coming to the Charleston area and other cities in South Carolina offering documentation and legal services to Mexican citizens, including those considered to be undocumented...[Full Article]

Mexican official speaks against American bill

An immigration enforcement activist is outraged that a member of the Mexican government was allowed to speak against a bill at a North Carolina legislative meeting. The proposed bill would stop government agencies from accepting bogus ID cards issued to illegal immigrants by the Mexican government.

For the first time since the Civil War, the North Carolina Legislature is controlled by Republicans. As a result, the Judicial Committee was able to pass H.B. 33, which forbids government officials from accepting the Matricula Consular cards. These cards are sold to illegal aliens by Mexican consulates in order to provide "official identification." The bill is now headed to a vote in the full North Carolina House...[Full Article]

Lawmaker files bill to stop accepting photo ID from Mexican consulate

RALEIGH — A lawmaker wants North Carolina state and local governments to stop accepting photo identification cards issued by the Mexican consulate as a valid ID, pointing out concerns of federal law enforcement and allegations of a criminal ring creating a wide range of fake documents.

An N.C. House judiciary subcommittee debated Wednesday a measure to remove the “matricula consular” from a list of documents to establish state residency to get a driver’s license, obtain auto insurance or enroll in Medicaid. Under the proposal, local governments also would not be allowed to accept the IDs issued to Mexican citizens living abroad in the U.S., and similar cards created by other countries...[Full Article]

Council OKs matricula consular resolution

DURHAM -- City Council members voted 5-2 Monday night to support the Durham Police Department's practice of accepting the Mexican government's matricula consular as a valid form of identification.

The decision, capping about a year of off-and-on debate, came at the request of local activist groups and the Mexican consulate that represents that country's interests in the Carolinas...

[Full Article]

Immigration Reform Group Plans To Protest Mexican Consulate Event

CONCORD, N.C. --
Instead of seeing students and buses at Concord High School, passers-by will likely see protesters this weekend.

“It is going to be a protest and it's going to be a protest directed at the Concord High School," said James Johnson, the president of NC For Immigration Reform and Enforcement (NCFIRE), a group that is calling for tougher immigration laws.

He said members of his group and of a group called ALIPAC will gather Saturday to protest the decision to let the Mexican consulate set up a mobile office on the school’s campus this weekend.

The event is one of many the consulate puts on to help Mexican citizens in the United States obtain Mexican identification cards and passports. Johnson said he thinks the events should be illegal.

“In our opinion, handing out this Matricula consular card and the Mexican passports leads to aiding and abetting illegal alien activity," he said...

[Full Article]

Previously arrested illegal alien charged with raping two little girls in North Carolina

Ricardo Velasquez

Photo: NBC 36

Sheriff’s deputies in Mecklenburg County have arrested Ricardo Velasquez, 40, and charged him the rape of two girls, ages 7 and 8. According to court documents, the rape occurred a little before 9:00 p.m. on Sunday night.

The Ecuadorian national is facing two counts of rape on a child under 13, two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, and two counts of first-degree sex offense on a child...

[Full Article]

Suspects in heroin bust likely illegal immigrants

[Rowan County, North Carolina]

Authorities say a group of Hispanics moved to Rowan County about three months ago to start and operate a black tar heroin business serving several counties.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, working with several other agencies, busted the operation Thursday, seizing cash, guns, cocaine and black tar heroin.

Sheriff Kevin Auten said this is the first full-scale black tar heroin operation busted in the county. He noted that black tar heroin usage is on the rise.

Investigators believe the business was connected to suppliers in Atlanta, based on the four-hour time needed for arrival of the product.

Lt. Chad Moose, head of the Criminal Investigation Division, said the Sheriff’s Office began the investigation six weeks ago, after tips from the public.

Heavy traffic at the newly opened business apparently also raised questions.

Auten said Friday that federal immigration officials have placed detain orders on the five Hispanics arrested. They are all believed to be illegal immigrants. A sixth person arrested, Meredith Kristin Simmons, was identified as the girlfriend of one of the men. When officers stopped Simmons and an infant passenger in a vehicle near Porky’s in China Grove, they found drugs. The Rowan County Department of Social Services was called...

[Full Article]