http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/12989606.htm

Richmond holds up plan for issuing immigrant ID card

By Peter Mathews

CENTRAL KENTUCKY BUREAU

RICHMOND - The city has put on hold a controversial plan to offer identification cards to immigrants amid what the city manager called "a misunderstanding" between city officials and the local migrant outreach program.

"We were under the impression it was for legal residents," City Manager David Evans said yesterday. "The Hispanic outreach office wanted it to be offered to everyone," regardless of their immigration status.

A Herald-Leader story Saturday prompted a lot of calls to city officials and Lexington talk radio from critics who were, in Evans' words, "barbecuing the city" over the program.

Many of them thought, incorrectly, that the identification card would confer legal status on illegal immigrants, Evans said.

The city is asking the Immigration and Naturalization Service for an opinion on whether the program conforms to agency regulations. National experts said last week Richmond would be the first municipality in the country to offer immigrant ID cards.

Because it was not clear when the INS response would come, the city has dropped plans to hand out identification cards tonight at the first meeting of the Latino/Hispanic Community Police Academy.

Sandra Anez Powell, migrant outreach coordinator with the Kentucky River Foothills Development Council in Richmond, declined comment for this story, referring questions to Evans.

Anez Powell was the driving force behind the program. She said earlier that the need for ID cards became clear after authorities had trouble identifying three bodies found in the Kentucky River in 2003.

The cards would contain an immigrant's photo, vital statistics, emergency contact numbers and a fingerprint, Evans said.

The cards would help immigrants do things most people take for granted, such as writing a check in a store. Evans noted yesterday he was also hearing from people who are sympathetic to immigrants' plight and favor the program.

Anez Powell also told the Herald-Leader earlier that it was important that the program include everyone, regardless of immigration status. A flier for the program referred to the intended recipients as "international residents."

To get a card, immigrants would have to present two forms of identification from their native country such as a birth certificate, passport, photo ID, marriage license or certificate, voter registration card or matricula consular -- a basic Mexican ID card.

One proof of Kentucky residency also would be required, such as a bill, lease agreement or mail with a home address.

Evans was quoted in the Richmond Register newspaper Sunday as saying the Herald-Leader story was wrong. He told the Register that applicants would have to show proof they were here legally, and the city would not issue cards to illegal immigrants.

The Richmond newspaper did not contact the Herald-Leader for comment about the story, headlined, "Newspaper gives wrong information about IDs."

Evans said he made the comment to the Richmond paper before he had a chance to speak with Anez Powell.

Yesterday, Evans met with Anez Powell and learned that her organization and city officials had different ideas about who was to be included, Evans said.

Evans acknowledged that the information required to obtain a card did not include any document saying a resident was here legally.

Whatever form the program eventually takes, it's not clear how popular it will be. Immigrants here illegally would most likely fear that the information could be given to federal authorities. Evans conceded that the information would be public record.

"We have no intention of giving it out," he said, "unless it's requested."

Asked whether legal immigrants would most likely already have identification, Evans said, "I suppose they would, yeah. We just didn't fully understand the program as it was presented."

Reach Peter Mathews in the Richmond bureau at (859) 626-5878 or pmathews@herald-leader.com.

================================================== ======

This guy is full of it. He knew, but he felt the heat and is now back peddaling. Way to go citizens of America. Lets continue to expose these traitors for what they are.