“Ceremonial” Matricula Consular cards are 1-0-1 with the Town of Gilbert’s Human Relations Commission. On Wednesday night, the commission tabled a vote until March 31 on whether or not to recommend that the Town Council approve the cards. In December, the commission had approved the controversial cards without dissent.

Commissioner Lorenzo Sierra said during Wednesday’s meeting that the cards are viewed by the commission as merely “ceremonial.” Gilbert mayor Steve Berman said Matricular Consular cards could not be used for any identification purposes in his city.

After Commissioner Charles Peevy motioned that the commission re-affirm its earlier support of Matricular Consular cards, Commissioner Marian Barchilon succeeded in convincing the body to suspend a decision. Without opposition, the commission agreed to come back and make its final decision on March 31, after members have had the opportunity to review an FBI opinion on the cards, as well as other documents cited by Matricula Consular opponents.

Eight persons testified on the cards during the commission meeting, six in opposition to the cards. Four of the six opponents testifying were state legislators, and one opponent is a candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives. Exchanges between legislators and commission members got testy at times.

House Majority Leader and Gilbert resident Eddie Farnsworth (R-D22) took exception to comments by Sierra. Farnsworth said he is the son of a native of Mexico and has spent parts of 25 years working in Mexico with his father.

“Ninety-five percent of the people who use this card are here illegally,” Rep. Farnsworth said.

Sierra asked Farnsworth if he had worked illegally in Mexico. “We are trying to do what’s best for Gilbert, and I get the impression you feel it’s one against the other,” Sierra said, precipitating a brief, but testy, exchange. “If you only see a downside, have you read the report that was submitted to the council?”

Farnsworth said, “I don’t see this as pitting one side against another. I thought this gentleman’s (Commissioner Fred Wilhalme) question to Rep. Russell Pearce -- ‘what’s your view of the border, do you want to build a wall?’ -- was very vitriolic. And Mr. Sierra’s comment that the big cannons are here was, too.”

Sierra said he meant no disrespect and invited Rep. Farnsworth to attend future meetings. Farnsworth responded by saying he respected the work done by the commission.

Farnsworth said he has discussed M.C. cards in legislative committees and has discussed the topic with several Valley city council members. He said that Tempe councilman Dennis Cahill could not answer his questions on M.C. cards, gave up and sat down, on one such occasion.

State Rep. Russell Pearce (R-D18, Mesa), who has Hispanic grandchildren, drew strong dissent from Adrian Barraza, a representative of Interfaith, with his comments. Pearce, a former member of the law enforcement community and official with the Motor Vehicle Division, said M.C. cards are not reliable documents, and added that Homeland Security director Tom Ridge has acknowledged as much. Pearce explained how the border invasion of illegal aliens is increasing crime in Arizona and severely stressing the state’s budget, health care and education capacities, in addition to significantly increasing violent crime.

With these cards, Pearce said, “You are exposing a risk to the citizens. Mexico doesn’t share its database with the U.S., and we don’t know who these people are. Eighty percent of the violent crimes in Mesa are done by illegal aliens. If we have learned nothing since 9/11, it‘s that we are at risk. We are in serious trouble, and it‘s time we recognized that. There is only one reason to issue these cards, and it‘s to break the law. It violates Arizona law, and it‘s unconstitutional.”

Sierra then responded: “We need to keep this in context. It (approving the Matricula Consular cards) was ceremonial. A lot of what we do is ceremonial.”

Pearce responded that the border invasion, the lack of respect for the rule of law and the push for M.C. cards “is all connected.”

Barraza, a U.S. citizen, said the Mexican people need the cards. “I see hate and fear from Russell Pearce,” Barraza said. “Sheriff Joe Arpaio and others approve it. I don’t buy guns and I don’t like to fight with people. I am offended by Pearce. We are feeding this country. Our hands are doing these jobs. Be more human. Things are changing, but there is a lot of resistance in this state. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more than the Fourth of July. The INS is so big, it takes a long wait to get legal status. Russell Pearce, I will pray for you. Maybe we’re illegal, but listen to the reasons.”

Retired assistant school principal Saul Solis then spoke in support of the cards.

“Where there is justice there is peace,“ Solis said. “Where there is peace there is justice. I don’t see any peace here. I was discouraged by the cannons (legislators). Where is the peace? I made a presentation here for the Matricula Consular IDs. It’s to keep track of victims or criminals. This is a way of identifying because it has the picture and the information. I ask you to accept the Matricula Consular. I’m standing tall. I hope there is peace in your hearts.”

State Rep. Karen Johnson (R-D18), of Mesa, then got up to speak in Pearce’s defense.

“Russell is as fine a man as I know. Regarding the comment that there isn’t any peace here, when you have anarchy you can’t have peace. Matricula Consular flouts the rule of law. I would ask for peace in that way. In Mesa, these kinds of public meetings didn’t take place, and some council members told me they wish they had taken the time to consider these things.”

Legislative candidate J.T. Ready of Mesa said he lives at “Ground Zero” of the border invasion. “This is ceremonial suicide for our country,” Ready said. “We’re talking illegal. There is no reason to have these cards except to grant amnesty. It only benefits illegal aliens. Don’t accept this card as legal ID here. Do we need to keep tasting poison to realize that it is poison?"

State Rep. Andy Biggs (R-D22), also a Gilbert resident, also testified against Matricula Consular cards.

In answering questions by Commissioner Jennifer McCarthy, Pearce said the M.C. card grants “imaginary” advantages to illegal aliens. “You don’t know who they are, and you’ve done an injustice to the community when you accept it. If legal, you can get a verifiable ID. The purpose of the Matricula Consular is to give it to people who have violated the law, and you do a disservice to everybody. The two greatest threats of it are terrorism and allowing people to get around legal responsibilities.”

Barraca said illegals with dual citizenship and with Green Cards need the M.C. cards. Farnsworth denied the validity of that claim.

Kathy McKee, chairman of the Protect Arizona Now initiative drive, told the commission that law officers have caught illegals in possession several Matricula Consular cards, all bearing different names and addresses, proving the unreliability of the cards.

“What is so horrible about these cards is that there are no background checks,” McKee said. “The Mexican Consulate doesn’t know who these people are. Sometimes the addresses are not valid addresses. Matricula Consular cards are available to hardened criminals and no questions are asked. The cards are not worth the paper they’re printed on. “

McKee told the commission that the city could expose its mayor and town council to lawsuits by approving the M.C. Cards.