Prometheus 6   

Congressman Stirs Flap With Mexico
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar
Times Staff Writer

5:43 PM PDT, May 22, 2003

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., and several of his colleagues stood beside a large poster to dramatize their concern that more than 1 million IDs issued by Mexican consulates -- and accepted in the United States by many local authorities and banks -- are a form of amnesty for illegal immigrants.

The poster depicted a mock consular ID card with a picture of Mexican President Vicente Fox. It was captioned "Office for the Issuance of Illegal Alien ID." It listed Fox's occupation as "El Presidente," and the citizenship of his parents as "Unknown."

"I call it anti-Hispanic. You can quote me on that," said Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas.