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Topic: New Haven Begins Immigrant ID program (Read 177 times)
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iamme
Global Moderator
Hero Member
Posts: 1012
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City Is First To Offer Cards Ensuring Immigrants Gain Access To Services, Banks
http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=921f0494-65f0-45f5-8f13-431e333269f0
New Haven (AP) — Dozens of people lined up at City Hall on Tuesday for municipal identification cards, the first city-issued ID cards specifically designed to bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows and give them access to community services.
The cards, available to New Haven's entire population, are meant to help anyone without a state- or federal-issued ID open a bank accounts and use other services that would otherwise be inaccessible. Advocates argue that if immigrants can open bank accounts, they will be less likely to carry large amounts of cash, a practice that makes them easy targets for robbers.
An estimated 10,000 to 12,000 of New Haven's 125,000 residents are believed to be in the country illegally.
“The simple straightforward purpose here is to build a stronger community,” Mayor John DeStefano said. “You can't police a community of people who won't talk to our cops.”
The mayor said the federal government had failed to address immigration-related issues, forcing cities to find ways to manage them. New Haven is simply acknowledging the people who already live there, he said.
Ray Sanchez, a 36-year-old laborer waiting in line at City Hall with more than 100 others, said the card would also let him get a library card, use banks and learn English. It also would make him feel more safe, he said.
“We need to send money to the places we come from. For me, I feel better. If the police catch me, I have identification now,” Sanchez said.
There also was a contingent of protesters at City Hall on Tuesday. Bob Luciani, a teacher from Woodbridge, said he is concerned that that other cities may do what New Haven has done.
“It's going to metastasize across all over the country. I think this is totally illegal,” he said.
The ID cards stand in contrast to new laws or proposals in more than 90 cities or counties around the nation prohibiting landlords from leasing to illegal immigrants, penalizing businesses that employ them or training police to enforce immigration laws.
New Haven already offers federal tax help to immigrants and prohibits police from asking about their immigration status. The new ID cards cost $5 for children and $10 for adults.
Shortly after city officials approved the program, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted raids that led to about 30 arrests. City officials said the raids appeared to be retaliatory, but ICE officials have said the raids had nothing to do with the city's approval of the ID program.
They would not comment on the prospects of more raids.
“ICE is mandated by Congress to enforce a wide range of immigration and customs laws and we will continue to enforce those laws in Connecticut and throughout the U.S.,” the agency said in a statement.
DeStefano acknowledged that some immigrants may be reluctant to apply for an ID card because of the raids, but predicted most will still seek the ID cards.
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bob1388
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W was on O'Reilly Monday night ranting and raving about New Haven's plan. There is a proposal in NYC to do the same.
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ALIPAC - American-Latino Immigrants Proudly Assisting the Community
