To require identification that may be used in obtaining Federal public benefits to meet restrictions ensuring that it is secure and verifiable.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a problem that should be at the forefront of our agenda as we move into the 108th Congress. Our immigration system today needs improvement. Unfortunately, it took a tragedy to remind us about this.

This country, of course, was based upon immigration. It was what has made us strong and all Americans recognize its importance. But this system needs improvement. We must continue to facilitate the entry of those men and women who make productive citizens, yet continue to filter those who are not eligible and those who could bring harm to our way of life.

As a body, we recently moved the INS to the Department of Homeland Security, a measure that signals a return to our security. This administration has realized the fact that reorganization must take place before we can take steps to reform our immigration system.

At no other time in our Nation's history have we faced more of a threat to our domestic security; but as we make strides towards improved security measures, I am deeply concerned that countries, even those who are considered allies, are lining up to compromise our work.

Every day, Mr. Speaker, thousands of illegal immigrants stream across our

sieve-like borders and into our country. Once they are inside, the grim reality stands that they are totally, totally untrackable. Yet our neighbor to the south does nothing to help us. But this is in no way shocking, seeing that remittances from Mexico's citizens, both legal and illegal, account for Mexico's third largest source of income. It amounts to over $10 billion a year. That is what is sent back by the Mexican immigrants. So it is no surprise that the Mexican Government is not helping us to secure our borders.

One method I would bring to the attention of my colleagues has been found recently by Mexico in the wake of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. As we remember, we were going to have legislation on the floor dealing with Mexico that was tabled because our attention was focused on homeland security. So then the Mexican Government decided to change its strategy and they substituted a grass-roots approach that focused at the local level to seek small successes and build momentum for congressional action.

Now, the linchpin for this new strategy was to be the matricula consular. Now, this is a word which means an official identity card which would be issued by the Mexican Government which it wants to be officially recognized by the United States. Now, unless we recognize this card, it goes nowhere; but they want us to recognize this card. This card would essentially allow illegal immigrants from Mexico the right to apply for a driver's license, Social Security card, and bank account. The U.S. Treasury Department has even gone so far as to promote its use. In a report to Congress, Treasury included a footnote that would go on to influence the language of the United States Patriot Act. The footnote says: ``Thus, the proposed regulations do not discourage bank acceptance of the matricula consular identity card that is being issued by the Mexican Government to immigrants.''

My colleagues, we can stop this by sponsoring H.R. 502. This bill requires that any ID cards must be verifiable by our government to obtain Federal public benefits. We do not have to recognize these identity cards from Mexico. The intent of the PATRIOT Act of 2000, which passed overwhelmingly by Congress, was to strengthen our homeland security. It addressed the issue of secure identification because the hijackers had obtained Social Security numbers and drivers licenses. Especially in this context, it is difficult to comprehend why Treasury went out of its way to give approval to an identity card being offered by a single foreign government whose contiguous border is a matter of acute concern to the United States and whose nationals represent the majority of illegals within the United States.

As our troops risk their lives thousands of miles from home, it is disappointing that a country so dependent upon us would continue to compromise our security and openly denounce our foreign policy, that is, they are not supporting the war in Iraq. Despite the fact that the United States provides Mexico with 75 percent of their annual trade and is home to millions of migrants, President Fox of Mexico, a friend of President Bush, openly decries our military action.

As the battle for our homeland security wages both here and in the deserts of the Middle East, we must find a way to better monitor the men and women who freely cross our borders every day. The matricula consular identity card would not help in this regard, Mr. Speaker. It is time we reevaluate our immigration system and ensure that our country will be better protected by those who would wish to do us harm.