Thread: New Haven approves ID cards for illegal immigrants

New Haven approves ID cards for illegal immigrants, others
June 5, 2007
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - The Board of Aldermen overwhelmingly approved a plan Monday night that would allow the city to issue identification cards for illegal immigrants and others.
The card would be recognized as official identification within city limits, allowing illegal immigrants to open bank accounts. By a vote of 25-1, the board agreed to accept more than $250,000 in private funds from the First City Fund Corporation to implement the so-called "Elm City Resident Cards," proposed by Mayor John DeStefano Jr.

"This card will allow all carriers to receive access to the services that they deserve as residents of New Haven," DeStefano said in a statement Monday night.

He said the new cards, which will be issued beginning in July, are also aimed at improving public safety. DeStefano many undocumented immigrants become victims of crime of robbery because thieves know they carry large amounts of cash with them or store it in their home. Without proper identification, they are unable to open bank accounts.

"By eliminating this barrier to banking services, we expect to make New Haven safe for all its residents," DeStefano said.

The card, which is $10 for adults and $5 for children, also would provide all holders access to city services, from parks to libraries, and function as a type of limited debit card.
"People live in the city, people work in the city and people are planning to stay in the city," supporter Alderwoman Migdalia Castro said during the debate.

A packed chambers broke out into applause when the vote was tallied.

Supporters said a municipal identification card would help assimilate illegal immigrants, as well as provide a range of benefits to other residents who may not have official IDs, such as the elderly and children.

Alderwoman Arlene DePino voted against the measure. She expressed concern the cards would lead to an influx of immigrants and burden city schools and hospitals.

On Monday, opponents and supporters argued the issue outside City Hall while the board debated inside.

"I don't know why they don't realize they are illegals," said opponent Ted Pechinski, a member of Southern Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Reform.

Pechinski said he also feared the ID cards will encourage more to come to New Haven and eventually surrounding communities. The group has been distributing letters and e-mails against the program, which DeStefano denounced as "race-based hate mail."

http://www.thestamfordtimes.com/stamfor ... 266550.php

New Haven Approves Program to Issue Illegal Immigrants IDs

By JENNIFER MEDINA
Published: June 5, 2007
NEW HAVEN, June 4 — The Board of Aldermen on Monday night made municipal identification cards available to illegal immigrants, in what city officials said was the first such program in the nation. The measure was approved by a vote of 25 to 1.

City officials and immigrant rights advocates said they hoped the cards would give immigrants better access to city services and help the police confirm their identities should they become targets of crime. Last year, a number of illegal immigrants told community service agencies they had been robbed of cash, but said they were worried about telling the authorities for fear of being deported.

The cards, which will include an official photograph and city imprint, will be available to all residents, regardless of immigration status, and the city is placing special emphasis on issuing them to children, college students and people 65 and older, as well as immigrants without green cards. Immigrant rights advocates and city officials began developing plans for the card last year, and New Haven planned to begin issuing them in July.

In an effort to attract residents to the program, the city is placing a magnetic strip on the back of the cards, which, when swiped, would deduct money from a prepaid account to pay for parking at meters, as well as goods at about 50 restaurants and stores in New Haven.

“The last thing we want is to create what will be an easy giveaway about who amongst us has status and who doesn’t,â€

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"This card will allow all carriers to receive access to the services that they deserve as residents of New Haven," DeStefano said in a statement Monday night.

Services they deserve!?!

Umm. . . in what bizarre alternate universe do illegal entrants to our nation DESERVE services!?!

This has got to be stopped!!!!

Why not allow total chaos and anarchy ...........Sheeeeezz