Statement from Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez on Reports of Fraudulent Chinese Identification Documents

President Donald J. Trump has once again shined a spotlight on a threat that far too many have ignored for far too long. Reports involving fraudulent identification documents connected to China should concern every American.

Whether these fake IDs are being used to vote illegally, commit financial crimes, facilitate illegal activity, or exploit weaknesses in our identification systems, they represent a direct threat to the integrity and security of our country.

Here in Miami-Dade County, we take that threat seriously.

The Tax Collector's Office is one of the first lines of defense against identity fraud. Every day, our employees verify identities, detect fraudulent documents, protect vehicle titles, issue driver's licenses, and safeguard public records that millions of Floridians rely on. Every fraudulent document we stop is one less opportunity for criminals to victimize hardworking Americans.

Fraud is no longer just a financial crime. It has become a national security issue for the United States.

The same fake identification used to steal someone's identity can also be used to facilitate organized crime, human trafficking, money laundering, illegal voting, and countless other crimes that threaten our communities.

That is why our administration has made fighting fraud one of our highest priorities. We have strengthened fraud detection, invested in better technology, expanded employee training, increased cooperation with law enforcement, and aggressively pursued those who seek to exploit our systems.

Communist regimes have never played by the rules. The Chinese Communist Party has repeatedly demonstrated that it is willing to use espionage, cyberattacks, intellectual property theft, and influence operations to advance its interests. Americans should not be surprised if fraudulent identity documents become another tool in that arsenal.

Here in Miami-Dade County, we refuse to be an easy target.

Our employees understand that every transaction matters. Every driver's license issued, every title transferred, and every identity verified is an opportunity to stop fraud before it spreads.

Protecting the integrity of our systems is not just good government. It is an essential part of protecting the American people.

As Tax Collector, I will continue ensuring that our office remains vigilant, proactive, and relentless in the fight against fraud. Criminals are constantly adapting. We will continue adapting faster.

Our message is simple: if you want to exploit our systems, commit fraud, or  undermine the security of our community, Miami-Dade County is the wrong place to do it.

Dariel Fernandez

Tax Collector, Miami-Dade County