Thread: Trenton Issues IDs for Illegal Immigrants

Trenton Issues IDs for Illegal Immigrants

By KIRK SEMPLE
Published: May 16, 2010


TRENTON, N.J. — Since moving to this city from her native Guatemala a decade ago, Herlinda, an illegal immigrant, has supported her family with restaurant work, but has had no way of proving that she lives here. Without government-issued photo identification, like a driver’s license or a passport, she said, she could not get treatment at most medical clinics, borrow a book from the library, pick up a package from a mail center or cash a check.


But this month she discovered a solution: a community identification card issued by a coalition of civic groups and endorsed by Trenton and Mercer County officials.

“When you don’t have a proper ID, they can humiliate you,â€

Then why aren't they all ranting and raving and complaining that Trenton is being like Arizona...forcing them to "carry their papers" and having to show identification???? What a HUGE LOAD OF BS!

[quote]But Ms. Juega said she and her fellow advocates in Trenton were motivated by a desire to “allow this population that is increasingly marginalized to have some semblance of a normal life.â€

Originally Posted by JBParrothead

Then why aren't they all ranting and raving and complaining that Trenton is being like Arizona...forcing them to "carry their papers" and having to show identification???? What a HUGE LOAD OF BS!

+1

Originally Posted by vistalad

Originally Posted by JBParrothead

Then why aren't they all ranting and raving and complaining that Trenton is being like Arizona...forcing them to "carry their papers" and having to show identification???? What a HUGE LOAD OF BS!

+1

Ditto that!

I had absolutely no idea this ID card thing was going on at all. I am seriously disheartened. If I were in Mexico and lived to tell of it, they would either deport me or put me in prison for 10 years - surely not an ID card and charity and jobs.

[quote]Early one recent morning as he was driving to work, he was pulled over by a Trenton police officer for driving with a broken tail light. The officer, he said, asked for his insurance card and registration as well as his driver’s license. While Mario had the car documents, he had no license; instead, he offered his local identity card.

The police officer, Mario said, let him go with a warning about the tail light. There was no mention of the lack of a driver’s license, a punishable offense.

Mario, an observant Catholic, smiled as he recalled his stroke of good fortune. “La obra de Dios,â€

If you don't have a driver's license, then insurance will not pay if you have an accident.

So the cop let him go with a warning? When I got hit by an illegal who ran away, the cop only charged him with following too close, not leaving the scene. The cop had an Hispanic last name. I sense that is the case in NJ as well.

This is blatant disregard and in violation of our federal laws...these people should be arested and procecuted!! Where the hell is ICE, Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano?????


Federal Immigration and Nationality Act

Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii) 50

"Any person who . . . encourages or induces an alien to reside knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such residence is in violation of law, shall be punished as provided . . . for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs . . . fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both."

Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):

A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:

* assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or

* encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or

* knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.

Penalties upon conviction include criminal fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of vehicles and real property used to commit the crime. Anyone employing or contracting with an illegal alien without verifying his or her work authorization status is guilty of a misdemeanor. Aliens and employers violating immigration laws are subject to arrest, detention, and seizure of their vehicles or property. In addition, individuals or entities who engage in racketeering enterprises that commit (or conspire to commit) immigration-related felonies are subject to private civil suits for treble damages and injunctive relief.

That's a great idea. Have the illegal aliens self-identify! I'd love to get hold of that list or maybe I can just hang around the issuing site and photograph the people going in. Better yet, why don't I just get a card for myself? I'd love to be Barack Obama--the undocumented president.

[quote]Trenton’s ID program, which began in May 2009, met with minimal resistance among city officials, said Detective Bob Russo of the Office of Community Affairs in the Trenton Police Department, who has been a major proponent. “I’ve had a few colleagues who were against it,â€