L. A. mayor wants ID card for immigrants

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 19: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (L) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas (R) hold a joint news conference at the Los Angeles Central Library on September 19, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. / Getty Images/Kevork Djansezian

LOS ANGELES Immigrants would get access to banking services in Los Angeles under a proposal by the mayor that would create an official city photo identification card that could also be used as a prepaid ATM card for their private bank account.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says his plan is similar to programs in San Francisco and Oakland, where ID cards are issued to anyone who can prove residency, regardless of immigration status, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"It will be an official ID," Villaraigosa told the newspaper. "It will be as strong an effort as San Francisco's."

An estimated 4.3 million immigrants live in LA.

Supporters say helping immigrants open bank accounts could reduce crime because fewer people would have to carry cash. An official city ID would also make it easier for many residents to obtain city services and identify themselves to law enforcement officials, they argue.

But critics say the plan is an accommodation to immigrants who are in the country illegally.

"Los Angeles is making it easier for people who have violated federal immigration laws to live in the city," said Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group critical of illegal immigration.

A City Council committee will discuss the ID card proposal on Tuesday, the Times said.

Card applicants would have to meet "strict" criteria, the mayor's office told the newspaper. The card, which officials say would look like a student ID, would include a photo, street address, date of birth, hair and eye color, height and weight. Law enforcement agencies could choose whether to recognize the card, and it would not substitute for a driver's license, the mayor's office said.

The city would hire an outside vendor who would charge applicants between $10 and $20 to obtain a card, and a few dollars a month for the debit service, which would be optional, the Times said.

Thousands of poor and elderly legal residents who don't have a driver's license or other identification would benefit from the program, the mayor's office told the newspaper.

[jessicab-c]

@FACEIT, you're ignorant. To vote you need to be a CITIZEN sweetie. Does not matter if you have an id, or a social security number. If you're not a legal citizen of the U.S. you cannot vote.

[OCgirl77]

This idea is beyond ridiculous. What makes it even more ridiculous is illegal aliens are being referred to as "immigrants" Correct terminology is not even being used. Rewarding criminals is outrageous. If criminals are all lining up somewhere to get benefits then why isn't IND showing up there with a bus? If I'm a criminal and I turn myself in I don't get more benefits, I go to jail. I made bad choices when I was young so I have a record so I can't own a gun in my state. Should I go protest and complain that I have been good for several years and still can't get a gun? I just see it as a privilege I won't ever have again in this state because I screwed up. Criminals should not be fighting for rights nor should they be given any rights back without taking the legal path.

[OCgirl77]

This idea is beyond ridiculous. What makes it even more ridiculous is illegal aliens are being referred to as "immigrants" Correct terminology is not even being used. Rewarding criminals is outrageous. If criminals are all lining up somewhere to get benefits then why isn't IND showing up there with a bus? If I'm a criminal and I turn myself in I don't get more benefits, I go to jail. I made bad choices when I was young so I have a record so I can't own a gun in my state. Should I go protest and complain that I have been good for several years and still can't get a gun? I just see it as a privilege I won't ever have again in this state because I screwed up. Criminals should not be fighting for rights nor should they be given any rights back without taking the legal path.

[EDSMITHUSA]

Is it just me or is this story missing the word ILLEGAL? Note to LA Mayor (and CBS News) legal immigrants already have cards. It is only the immigrants that are in the USA *illegally* that don't have a card.

[FACEITT]

I think it's a wonderful, clever idea to give ID cards to illegal immigrants. I can go along with the idea as long as the word "ILLEGAL ALIEN" IS WRITTEN ON THE CARD IN BIG BOLD LETTERS!! ALONG WITH THEIR FINGERPRINTS ON THE CARD! That should make INS's job so much easier to deport them when they catch them.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

He doesn't want ID cards for anything other than ILLEGAL immigrants.

The article title seems to have left out that little word...

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

JACK_25
BR is a hard line Iranian propagandist who hates Israel

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So? They have a criminal government, and make the US look bad at every turn.

If you weren't a Bible thumper, and it were called a non-Biblical name, you wouldn't give a crap about it.
.

[crankyoleman]

Wonder if the banks and the SEC will weigh in? Since when does a city decide what methods a bank will use to allow ATM access?

[jpseeb]

Is the qualifier 'illegal' officially off-limits now? I think it's fine to issue I.D. cards, but to obtain city services they should be citizens.

[tb91006]

No its not ok to supercede the federal laws and issue any id but a visa or green card period via the federal system so they can be documented and come here legally. This mayor has destroyed LA and is trying to put his final touches before he leaves this year.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

TB1006 - where does Federal Law state that the Fed is the only one which can issue IDs?

States issue many different types of IDs. Heck - companies issue IDs.

Now, of course, no state can call illegal aliens "legal", as that circumvents the INS.

[crankyoleman]

Bishop: you are a troll that is unarmed by anything related to facts.