**GAO-04-881**                      Published: Aug 24, 2004. Publicly Released: Sep 23, 2004.                  

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## Highlights

Several state and local government agencies and financial institutions accept consular identification (CID) cards, which are issued by foreign governments to their citizens living abroad. Mexico issued more than 2.2 million CID cards in 2002-2003 and Guatemala issued approximately 89,000 from mid-2002 to 2003. Critics of CID cards say their acceptance facilitates the unlawful stay within the United States of undocumented aliens and may provide opportunities for terrorists to remain undetected in this country. GAO examined (1) the purpose of a CID card and how Mexican and Guatemalan CID cards are being used in the United States, (2) steps Mexico and Guatemala have taken to verify the identities of CID card applicants and incorporate security features in CID cards now used in the United States, and (3) the positions and policies of federal agencies regarding CID cards.

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## Topics

Homeland Security

Border securityForeign governmentsHomeland securityIdentification cardsIdentity verificationImmigration enforcementTerroristsImmigrationIntergovernmental relationsInternational relations