http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/183633.html

IDs for immigrants gain voice
BY ALFONSO CHARDY
achardy@MiamiHerald.com
The Miami-Dade Community Relations Board may explore whether the county should issue identification cards for residents, including undocumented immigrants, the chairman of a board committee said Thursday.

The Rev. Harold A. Vieux made the statement following the board's Fair Immigration Committee meeting at County Hall, where the ID proposal was made by José Lagos, head of Miami-based immigrant rights group Honduran Unity.

Vieux's remarks marked the first formal expression of interest on the part of a South Florida municipal panel for an ID card similar to one being issued by New Haven, Conn. New Haven is the first U.S. city to offer its own official IDs to residents, including undocumented immigrants.

Official ID cards -- like Florida driver's licenses -- are generally issued by states.

But to qualify for a state ID in Florida and several other states, people must not only prove they are residents of the state but also that they are in the country legally. Foreign nationals must present green cards or other valid federal immigration documents and visas.

New Haven requires some type of utility bill to prove residency. Jessica Mayorga, a spokeswoman for New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, said more than 400 people had applied for the card on Wednesday and that hundreds more were in line Thursday at City Hall.

Immigrant rights activists like municipal ID cards because undocumented immigrants can use them to open bank accounts or secure apartment rental agreements. Opponents say they can end up shielding criminals or be easily forged.

Vieux said the staff of the Community Relations Board will research the ID card, gather information from New Haven -- home of Yale University and several other private and state colleges -- and then formally present the issue to the full board so members can decide whether to recommend that county commissioners approve a county ID card.

Separately, Steven Forester, senior policy advocate for Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami, or Haitian Women of Miami Inc., proposed that the committee recommend that county commissioners declare Miami-Dade a ''sanctuary'' from deportation for immigrants with final removal orders who do not have a criminal record.

Vieux said the committee needed more ''data'' on the sanctuary proposal before it could be brought before the full board.