Banco de America

Bank of America wants your business. That is, if you're an "undocumented immigrant" without a valid social security number, they want your business.

The LA Times reports that Bank of America is testing a program that provides credit cards to its customers even if they do not have a social security number. All they require for ID is an identification card issued by the Mexican consulate, also known as the Matricula Consular. The only problem with that idea is that, according to wikipedia, Congressman Gary Miller (R-CA), and many other sources, Matricula Consular cards can be obtained without any proof of identity, and they are used almost exclusively by illegal immigrants, since "documented immigrants" already have valid identification cards issued to them by the U.S. government.

According to Mike Gallagher, the only condition on receiving one of these credit cards, which can have a credit limit of up to $500, is that the account holder must keep at least $100 in the account at all times, for a minimum of three months. Upon achieving this monumental feat, they qualify for the credit card. They can also wire up to $3,000 a month to Mexico, free of charge, even though it is more than likely that the bank doesn't actually know who the account holder really is. I suppose it's only fair that the people who are taking jobs Americans (allegedly) don't want are also free to take money that Americans (allegedly) don't want and ship it off to another country.

The thing that bothers me most about all of this is that I work with clients all the time who are law-abiding American citizens, but because they've made some poor credit decisions in the past nobody will issue them even a simple credit card with a $500 limit. Apparently having "bad credit" is much worse than having a criminal history of breaking federal and international laws by sneaking across the border, ignoring employment and tax laws, and syphoning money out of the country. I can only imagine the way they would market this program. [cue cheesy announcer voice-over] "Bad credit? Sorry. No credit? Sorry. Here illegally, not paying taxes, and working for cash? We'll approve you!"

I have nothing against immigrants. If people want to come into the U.S.A. in search of a better life, that's fine with me. That is, as long as they're expected to play by the same rules as everyone else. In this debate, I just can't get past the word "illegal." People who do things that are illegal are called criminals. Criminals should be punished, according to the law. I'm sorry things are so bad in Mexico that people would risk their lives just to come and clean our houses, mow our lawns, and pick our vegetables. But, as Reagan said, you can't make the weak stronger by making the strong weaker. When we extend liberties like this to people who are in this country illegally, somebody has to foot the bill. That somebody is you, and that somebody is me.