Thread: Miami: Local officials differ on city's ID card idea

Local officials differ on city's ID card idea

IMMIGRATION
Local officials differ on city's ID card idea
An offer by a Connecticut city to issue ID cards to residents -- including those who are undocumented -- has provoked interest in immigrant-rich South Florida.
BY ALFONSO CHARDY, CASEY WOODS AND LUISA YANEZ
achardy@MiamiHerald.com

BOB CHILD/AP

Hundreds lined up Tuesday at city hall in New Haven, Conn., seeking identification cards from the first city in America to offer them to residents, including undocumented immigrants -- a move that has sparked mixed feelings among South Florida officials.

In Homestead, where many of Miami-Dade's undocumented migrants work on farms and in groves, the New Haven program sounds like a good idea to city officials and activists.

Homestead Mayor Roscoe Warren said he would support such a plan.

''I think it's critical for the well-being of the migrants who work to keep food on our table to have some sort of identification,'' Warren said. ``We have hundreds of people who work out in the fields, an area where there is no public transportation, and they end up walking incredible distances every day because they can never get a license. What we have now, with all these people without identification, is a horrible situation.''

Cheryl Little, executive director of Miami-based Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, said it would be a good idea for all Florida cities to follow New Haven's example. ''It's a refreshing approach to the call for immigration reform,'' she said.

`TOO EXPENSIVE'

But Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and several officials in Broward County expressed skepticism about the initiative.

''I don't think it's a good idea,'' said Diaz, whose mother brought him from Cuba to the United States when he was 6. Diaz said a municipal ID program would be difficult and expensive to manage and probably of little benefit to Miami residents.

''Cities are not set up for this,'' he said.

Deerfield Beach Mayor Albert Capellini said a city ID would be difficult to check for forgery.

''The problem I see with a city ID is, who is going to do background checks to see if the ID is forged or the information they give us is incorrect?'' Capellini said. ``It seems like a liability and a cost to city taxpayers that needs to be thought out a bit more.''

Capellini estimated that 17,000 Brazilian immigrants, including those who arrived legally and those who may be undocumented, live in Deerfield, making them a significant presence in the city of 80,000.

Pompano Beach Commissioner Charlotte Burrie also questioned the logistics of a citywide ID project.

''It seems like an astronomical undertaking,'' she said.

Commissioner Kay McGinn, also of Pompano, vehemently opposed a city ID.

''We have 12 million illegal aliens in this country, and we should do all we can to send them back,'' she said.

While Mexican consulates for years have issued ID cards known as matriculas to Mexicans in the United States, New Haven is the first U.S. city to offer a similar document to residents -- regardless of their immigration status.

Jessica Mayorga, a spokeswoman for New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, said more than 250 people showed up at city hall Tuesday to apply for the card. She said she didn't know how many were undocumented immigrants.

Mayorga said people have developed a ''misperception'' that the card is only for undocumented immigrants. New Haven is offering the ID not only to the city's 10,000 to 12,000 undocumented immigrants but to all of its 125,000 residents.

Applicants must show proof they live in the city, like a utility bill. They will be able to use the ID as a debit card with a $150 one-time spending limit. It can be used to pay parking meters or for goods and services at 50 participating stores.

The debit card feature is particularly significant to rights advocates who have long argued that undocumented immigrants -- who carry cash because they cannot open bank accounts -- are vulnerable to thieves.

City officials in New Haven said the new ID cards are expected to encourage undocumented immigrants who are crime victims to come forward or cooperate with police in investigating crimes against others.

ID SUPPORTED

Jonathan Fried, executive director of the Homestead social justice organization WeCount!, said documentation of any form is better than nothing for both officials and the undocumented immigrants.

``I don't think it's a bad idea. I understand that authorities need to know who's who, and an identification like that provides it. We know the identification doesn't give you any rights or privileges, so why not?''

In Homestead, Fried said, undocumented migrants are requesting identification cards from their consulates that are being accepted by city agencies and some banks as legal identification.

http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/181345.html

Hundreds lined up Tuesday at city hall in New Haven, Conn., seeking identification cards from the first city in America to offer them to residents, including undocumented immigrants -- a move that has sparked mixed feelings among South Florida officials.

... anyone with a brain and just a molecule of insight and analysis can see this is a ruse. The ONLY reason these cards are being issued is to legitimize ILLEGAL ALIENS. Why would a citizen or legal worker need or want these at all? What benefit does it provide them that they already receive by virtue of their legal standing??? Answer...NONE.

Mayorga said people have developed a ''misperception'' that the card is only for undocumented immigrants. New Haven is offering the ID not only to the city's 10,000 to 12,000 undocumented immigrants but to all of its 125,000 residents.

...additional proof of the ruse.

anyone with a brain and just a molecule of insight and analysis can see this is a ruse. The ONLY reason these cards are being issued is to legitimize ILLEGAL ALIENS. Why would a citizen or legal worker need or want these at all? What benefit does it provide them that they already receive by virtue of their legal standing??? Answer...NONE.

They must go through the drill of offering the cards to everyone to avoid being accused of 'racial profiling.' You are right; every i.d. in your wallet would be superior to the card issued by New Haven. The danger is that some uninformed and unsuspecting clerk in a government office might accept it as something official.

I'm sure any legal resident would have absolutely no problem providing the required documentation to acquire a state identification card from their local driver's license office. However, this isn't about American citizens or legal resident aliens.

The only reason New Haven, Conn. is doing this is because an agitator donated the money to make it possible. I sure would like to know what organization or individual is backing New Haven's play on this (donated the necessary funds). Someone is stirring the pot, and I'm curious as to who that is!