LA City Council approves illegal immigrant IDs

utsandiego.com

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles City Council has approved a plan to create city-issued photo-identification cards to help identify illegal immigrants.

The Los Angeles Times reports ( L.A. council approves ID cards for city residents - latimes.com ) councilmembers voted 12 to 1 on Wednesday to select a vendor to develop and administer the identity card program.

The ID would act as a library card and a debit card, and it would be up to law enforcement to decide whether to accept the cards.

Councilman Richard Alarcon says they are necessary because federal government failed to make significant reforms in immigration policy and it's undeniable that businesses and individuals are hiring illegal immigrants.

The lone "no" vote was cast by Republican Councilman Mitch Englander, who says the city is in too tough of a financial bind to take on a new program.

LA City Council approves illegal immigrant IDs | UTSanDiego.com