Thread: Ethnic hustlers demand ID cards for lawbreaking squatters

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/13007497.htm

Hispanic advocates press for ID cards

LEXINGTON LEADERS CALL FOR CARDS REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS

By Frank E. Lockwood

HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Leaders of the Lexington Hispanic Association yesterday called on the city to issue identification cards to Latinos, regardless of their immigration status.

At a meeting of the Mayor's Hispanic Workforce Development Task Force, several speakers said the cards are needed. No one spoke out against the IDs, which would probably include a person's name, photo, health information and phone numbers for next of kin.

Few if any cities in the country currently give ID cards to undocumented residents. Similar proposals in Richmond and New Haven, Conn., stalled after generating considerable opposition.

Task force members declined to endorse the ID cards at yesterday's meeting, but said they will make a recommendation when they meet with Mayor Teresa Isaac on Dec. 14.

The task force's advocacy committee already has recommended that the city issue the cards.

But task force co-chair Alayne White said it's uncertain whether the rest of the group will take a similar stance.

"It clearly is a very sensitive issue," she said. "When you bring up the issue of not having documentation or being here in the country illegally, that stirs passion in people."

Josh Santana, an attorney and president of the Lexington Hispanic Association, said the proposal may meet resistance.

"Some of the opposition is rooted in bigotry. Some of the opposition is rooted in fear. Some of the opposition is rooted in the concept that we're rewarding folks for having done something wrong," he said. But issuing the cards is "the just and right thing to do."

"We as a society have a moral obligation to do what we can to protect those God has placed in our midst," Santana said.

Some immigrants currently get ID cards from foreign governments: Mexican consulates issue matriculas consulares to Mexicans. This month, Honduran and Guatemalan government officials were also in Kentucky, issuing passports. But passports can cost well over $100.

Many immigrants have no picture identification at all, which creates problems when they have medical emergencies or are victims of crime or need to complete some business transactions.

Task force member Sandra Noble Canon says the identification cards are "absolutely essential for Lexington" because they will benefit an "integral" part of the community.

Without Hispanic workers, "We wouldn't have people to care for us. We wouldn't have people to feed us. We wouldn't have people to clean our houses, mow our lawns," she said. "It's all about economic well-being." {Good god you lazy sack of manure, you need to get off your lazy a$$ and take care of your own self like everyone else}

Reach Frank Lockwood at (859) 231-3211 or 800-950-6397 x3211 or flockwood@herald-leader.com

"Some of the opposition is rooted in bigotry. Some of the opposition is rooted in fear. Some of the opposition is rooted in the concept that we're rewarding folks for having done something wrong," he said. But issuing the cards is "the just and right thing to do."

Most of the opposition is rooted in reality and common sense which leads people to conclude that it's "just the wrong thing to do".

"We as a society have a moral obligation to do what we can to protect those God has placed in our midst," Santana said.

We as a society and a nation have a moral obligation along with our government to protect our citizens from the effects of an uninvited and unwelcome invasion. I think they sneaked in on their own too, God didn't pick them up and plunk them down here. But, I agree that any illegals who were truly brought by Acts of God such as being blown in by hurricanes should be cared for and protected.

Without Hispanic workers, "We wouldn't have people to care for us. We wouldn't have people to feed us. We wouldn't have people to clean our houses, mow our lawns," she said. "It's all about economic well-being."

Poor, poor Sandra -- or is it, Scarlet?. How dare they take your slaves away and now you have to find new ones. You did have all that covered once, right? And, whose economic well-being are you talking about? Certainly not that of any of your fellow citizens who may fall a little short of being included in your aristrocracy. (Ever notice, folks, how the illegal advocates are in so many cases are the ones that fit the true and actual definition of racist?)