Thread: Lexington KY: Immigrant ID cards proposed

Immigrant ID cards proposed
FINAL FORUM HEARS A RANGE OF OPINIONS

By Steve Lannen
SLANNEN@HERALD-LEADER.COM
Lexington city officials should consider providing local identification cards for immigrants, regardless of their immigration status.

That was the suggestion of a few of the nearly 60 people who spoke during a three-hour public forum on immigration last night. It was the second and last opportunity for residents to address a mayoral commission on immigration.

More than 100 people packed the Urban County Council chambers; 30 others sat on folding chairs in the first-floor ballroom watching the proceedings on TV.

They offered wide-ranging opinions. Some want local police to enforce immigration laws; others urged more English as a Second Language opportunities. Others spoke out against the "invasion" of immigrants not authorized to be in the United States who are taking jobs.

Because each speaker had only three minutes to address commissioners, no topic was visited in depth. But proponents of a local identification card said it would help people open bank accounts and help police better know who they are dealing with.

Freddy Peralta, a prominent member of the Kentucky Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said Lexington should consider following the lead of New Haven, Conn., which recently became the first city in the nation to offer local identification cards. In Kentucky, Richmond briefly considered offering local IDs nearly two years ago, but quickly scuttled the idea after fierce reaction from residents and talk-radio callers.

ID cards would be "a very positive measure the city can do in order to make a better city," Peralta told commissioners.

The commission is working on a study requested by Mayor Jim Newberry to determine whether there is anything city leaders can or should do regarding immigration policy and law. The group has been asked to deliver a report to the mayor by Sept. 1 with guidance and recommendations.

Another topic repeatedly raised last night was whether Lexington should take advantage of federal training in immigration enforcement. A handful of state and municipal police elsewhere have trained their officers to enforce immigration law, using a provision in the 1996 Immigration and Nationality Act known as 287(g).

"This program is currently helping many other counties and states combat the growing illegal alien population," said Doug Roy. "Those folks are beginning to place an undue burden on the infrastructure, school systems, garbage and sewer systems, water supplies and medical facilities."

Roy told the commission he and a few others had met with some police officials about the possibility of adopting 287(g).

However, Chief Anthany Beatty has said before that immigration law is a federal issue and his officers' responsibility is to ensure safety of all Lexington residents.

Later, Roy said he was fed up with local officials putting off the immigration issue because it's a federal issue. "We're the people who are affected at home," he said.

Some other critics of 287(g) said it was ripe for racial profiling.

"Will this mean I will be pulled over on my way to school just because I look Hispanic? If this happened, I'd be able to sue," said Transylvania University student Jennifer Taribio, a U.S. citizen who is the daughter of immigrants.

At one point, commission member and Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Larson said that 287(g) "does not stop people who have otherwise not violated the law."

Still, others said local enforcement of federal immigration laws was a bad idea.

Reginald Thomas said it would "set the city of Lexington back 50 years." As he left the podium, Thomas also pointed out that the "business community has been awfully silent" on immigration issues and during the commission's work this summer.

Lisa Contreras said there has been misinformation on both sides of the debate. She urged the commission to provide some accurate facts and figures so residents could use them "as a starting point for rational dialogue. "

Reach Steve Lannen at (859) 231-1328 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 1328.

http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/140571.html

ID cards for immigrants. Legal immigrants already have means to open bank accounts, etc. it is only illegals who need an ID. this is insane. Just another way to mix legal immigrants with illegals. Once again it sounds like the politicans are not listening to the majority of people who spoke out against illegal immigration. What is pill have they taken so that they don't understand that they were elected to support citizens not illegals.

I'll admit to some paranoia about the U.S. Government, but I am concerned that if these i.d. cards continue to be issued, sooner or later there will be a bill that recognizes them in some way. Beckyal is spot on with her comment that the only people who need them are the illegals. The rest of us have plenty of identification documents.