Sounds like the old 'and if you break your leg falling off that <whatever>
don't come running to me' thing our parents used to screach at us....

That doesn't sould like an exaggerated concern to me!?

Some might consider you still foolish to admit this in a public forum.

About 2-3 years ago my wife worked in Mexico City for about six months.
Based on the experiences that she and her colleagues (US and Mexica
citizens) reported, I find it nearly unbelievable that you could get
ANYthing "offical" done without, perhaps not a "bribe", but, shall we
say an "unoffical payment".  This is the accepted norm in much or
Latin America, probably in much of the world.  You are not "bribing" the
official to do something "wrong"; just facilitating the flow of paperwork.
It should not be considered dishonest.

Most if not all USA state departments of motor vehicles (which may be know
by slightly different names in various states) will issue a non-driver's
license photo ID.  Costs and required proofs of identity will vary.
Check with your state.

It can be a lot easier to carry and use such a card for USA domestic ID
purpose, rather than a passport.  It may also be easier to replace
such an ID if lost.

I'm sure you are overreacting to it. If you will reread the OP's post
you will see she is trying to take the step kids on vacation with them
to Cozumel and is concerned about the US Dept. of State's description
that "The Government of Mexico requires...", etc.  It's not
inconceivable that her spouse's ex-wife might be resistant to taking
the kids down to the post office to get pix and forms for passports so
they can enjoy their vacation.  All this is speculation.

Last time we visited CZM (June of 2003) not having passports was not a
problem.  We had ours of course, but there didn't seem to be any
problem for people with other proofs of citizenship.

All of the preceeding, of course, only applies to US nationals.  I
believe the same also applies to Canadians, but it's best to check
first.

As I and others have posted, it never hurts to have a passport.  And
an envelope stuff with $1000 each of Euros, Yen and a few other
currencies.  There's no telling when you may need to leave the country
"in a hurry".

I don't read facetious comments.  But when I read your bullshit about how a
passport is required to re-enter the U.S., I couldn't help calling it
bullshit.  The 18-year-old needs a birth certificate and government-issued
photo ID, plain and simple.  A passport is nice but it is not required.  You
said it was required.  That's bullshit.

That's quite a mouthful.  Were you referring to the part which reads, "A
number of facilities have opened in Mexico that offer behavior modification
therapy for teenagers and others suffering from drug addiction and other
behavioral or psychological problems. Standards applied by the Government of
Mexico and local governments, where they exist, may not meet standards for
similar facilities in the United States . Parents planning to enroll their
children in these facilities should take appropriate action to investigate
the facility first."?  No, I didn't think so.

Or were you simply referring to the part where "the U.S. Embassy recommends
traveling with a valid U.S. passport to avoid delays or misunderstandings"
because that sounds an awful like a recommendation to me and not a
requirement and it speaks of traveling within Mexico not re-entering the
U.S.  Can you even read?

BTW, if you did read the entire state department line of bullshit about any
particular country, you'd never leave the U.S.

In Mexico, for example:  "Crime in Mexico continues at high levels, and it
is often violent", "Sporadic outbursts of politically motivated violence
occur from time to time in certain parts of the country", "Some segments of
the local population resent the presence of foreigners and openly express
their hostility", "There are a significant number of pick-pocketing
incidents, purse snatchings and hotel-room thefts", "Armed street crime is a
serious problem in all of the major cities", "Some establishments may
contaminate or drug the drinks to gain control over the patron", "Victims,
who are almost always unaccompanied, have been raped, robbed of personal
property, or abducted and then held while their credit cards were used at
various businesses and Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs)", "U.S. citizens
should be very cautious in general when using ATMs in Mexico", "Kidnapping,
including the kidnapping of non-Mexicans, continues at alarming rates",
"Criminal assaults occur on highways throughout Mexico", "there have been
several reports of bus hijackings and robberies on "toll" roads", "In some
instances, Americans have become victims of harassment, mistreatment and
extortion by Mexican law enforcement", "Tourists should not hike alone in
backcountry areas, nor walk alone on lightly frequented beaches, ruins or
trails", " In many areas in Mexico , tap water is unsafe and should be
avoided", "Visitors to Mexico , especially in urban areas, should exercise
particular caution when crossing streets", "Mexican authorities may
prosecute anyone arrested for transporting aliens into or out of Mexico",
"There have been a significant number of rapes reported in Cancun", "Diving
equipment provided by dive shops may not meet U.S. safety standards and due
to frequent use, may be substandard or defective", "If black flags are up,
do not enter the water", "Two volcanoes in Mexico have been active in recent
years".  Don't forget, this comes from the same people who told us there
were WMD in Iraq, so you know it must be true.

And you're trying to worry the poor lady over a passport?  What kind of
parent is she, anyway, taking her children to such a dangerous country?

Last year - going out of the country (may)

I'm not surprised, a school ID would only be valid for the short time
the student was enrolled.

I'm convinced the lack of passport enforcement for Mexico visits is
largely due to pressure from a variety of entertainment and business
entities on the state dept.  Call it a "good neighbour fence" without a
lockable gate.