Groups to Protest Police Acceptance of Mexican ID

Critics of the Anaheim Police Department’s decision to accept Mexican identification cards are planning a protest Saturday.

The “defense of the homeland” rally will be held in front of Anaheim City Hall. It is sponsored by two immigration-reform groups, Sherman Oaks-based American Patrol and the California Coalition for Immigration Reform, based in Huntington Beach.

On Tuesday, dozens of members of those groups asked the City Council to overrule Anaheim Police Chief Roger Baker’s decision allowing police to accept cards issued by the Mexican consulate as valid identification.

Baker and Orange County police chiefs made the joint decision last month, sparking criticism by many who say it violates federal law and allows illegal immigrants to elude immigration enforcement.

Latino community groups had argued that innocent people were being deported for minor infractions or traffic violations after they had been taken to jail when they were unable to show valid identification. A Social Security card is required to obtain a driver’s license.

“Acceptance of Mexican ID cards is a clear statement by the Anaheim Police Department that it will ignore U.S. immigration laws to the discriminatory benefit of Mexican nationals in its jurisdiction,” said American Patrol president Glenn Spencer, who said police are engaged in “passive resistance.”

Several people also argued that the decision by Orange County law enforcement agencies encourages other jurisdictions to follow suit.

On Tuesday, San Francisco adopted an ordinance accepting the Mexican IDs, making it the first city in the nation to do so.

Anaheim City Council members did not respond to those who spoke at the meeting, in part because most speakers were not Orange County residents. Police said they have no plans to rescind their decision.