The federal government will put together a working group to prove to the new California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, that identification cards offered by Mexican consulates meet U.S. security concerns, Foreign Minister Ernesto Derbez said on Monday. Derbez said the group would show the application process for the identification cards, known as "matriculas consulares," include background checks of criminal records.
Last week, Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill repealing statutes that allowed undocumented migrants the right to obtain a driver's license. Derbez said the decision was due to Schwarzenegger's concerns over the legal background of Mexicans seeking licenses.
He said the working group would detail Mexican methodologies used to determine if applicants for the matriculas have criminal records.
Tuesday marks National Migrant Day, which honors the contributions made by Mexicans living abroad.
Meanwhile, the National Governors Conference (Conago) on Monday announced a commission of five governors would travel to California, Texas, and Chicago, Illinois, to meet with migrant groups. The group will include the governors of Baja California, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Oaxaca and Puebla.
The governors also will seek a meeting with Schwarzenegger in order to lobby for new legislation granting undocumented migrants the right to obtain a driver's license.
Zacatecas Gov. Ricardo Monreal said governors wanted to build a common strategy with federal authorities to push for a migration accord with the United States "with greater firmness and diplomacy."
