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Dane County residents could have new ID option

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by Amelia Vorpahl

Monday, September 17, 2007

Residents of Dane County who rely on a consulate ID card, passport or birth certificate as personal identification may soon be able to apply for a county-issued ID.

The proposed ID could be used for a number of public services, such as checking out a book at the library or opening a bank account.

The idea, which was initiated by the Immigrant Workers' Union, has recently gained the support of Dane County Board Supervisor Ashok Kumar, who said the program has yet to gain full approval from the board.

The county-issued ID would be a way to combat the Real ID Act of 2005, legislation that, among other things, will make it impossible for a nonresident to receive a driver's license.

Since its conception, many immigrants have been protesting against the act, calling it discriminatory.

"The reality is that there's a lot of families that are vulnerable to abuse because they have no way to identify themselves," said Alex Gillis, the head of IWU in Dane County.

Kumar said he believes the program would also help solve a public safety concern because immigrants with this ID would no longer have to carry around large amounts of cash, and international students would not have to take their passports everywhere with them.

Kumar said if passed, there would be an application process, much like for any other type of ID requiring the person to bring in "substantial identification," such as a passport, consulate card or birth certificate.

However, Kumar stressed this is new terrain for Dane County and the program is still in the beginning stages.

Before anything else can be developed, the board would first need to receive a legal opinion of the program from both their lawyers and municipal lawyers, and they would need to work out fiscal issues pertaining to the program, such as finding machinery to make the IDs.

However, Kumar remains optimistic about the eventual approval of the program, saying Dane County has always been a "progressive county" and "inclusive" toward immigrants.

This new system would be closely based on a county ID program that is already in use in New Haven, Conn.

The Connecticut program has only been in place since July, and in spite of criticism for its availability to illegal immigrants, it has been popular.

Gillis said many people who criticize immigrants that haven't been granted legal status do not realize that many people have been waiting ten years or more to gain legality, and in the meantime, they have no identification.

He added this is a great step in opening up a dialogue about problems and issues facing the immigrant community.

When asked whether this program might make it easier for immigrants to remain illegal, Kumar said he is "opposed to the notion of legal versus illegal," and that it is an issue that is "questionable at best."

"You know, no human being is illegal," Kumar said.

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Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 3:37am):

Nice. I'm sure all of Kumar's constituents in the low income, immigrant, Eagle Heights ward will be huge supporters of this. Too bad none of them can vote! What's up with that? How is any elected official going to look out for immigrant communities, with the rare exception of Kumar, if they pay taxes but cannot vote or run for office? No taxation without representation!

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 9:29am):

"opposed to the notion of legal versus illegal,"

All criminals opposed to the artifical limits on their activities imposed by the law.

All criminals are human beings, but not all human beings are criminals. Simple I know, but so is Kumar apparently.

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 9:47am):

"...would be a way to combat the Real ID Act of 2005, legislation that, among other things, will make it impossible for a nonresident to receive a driver's license."

Would that not only be nonresidents that are breaking the law? I beleive that legal residents can get a DL.

Illegal aliens who can't get a driver's license should walk back home or turn themselves in to ICE and transportation will be arranged.

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 3:54pm):

50 years ago it was "illegal" for black people to sit in the front of a bus, 100 years ago it was "illegal" for women to vote. I don't give a shit about "legal" or "illegal".

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 6:26pm):

OH YA TOTALLY 3:54 LOLOLOROFLS TOTALLY. MURDER. RAPE. INCEST. ILLEGAL. SO, MUST BE OK, RIGHT?

Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 8:09pm):

Kumar is right! illegal is very relative here! we are talking about normal people in our communities, they work, pay taxes and build our country as hard as any of us.

Millions of jobs has been outsourced so the companies can profit even more, but we blame inmigrants!

The 2008 federal budget grants 125 billions to "war on terror" and more than a trillion to military expensives all toguether, in the same budget education has 55 billions, but we blame the education system crisis to the immigrant.

The healthcare companies make historical record profits, but immigrant are, of course, guilty again.

So, now the real estate boom comes to the end, and i am just waiting for somebody to blame the immigrants, why not?

Immigrant are normal worker people that has nothing to do with the causes of our problems.

Here is the question: who is more americam, the undocumented immigrant who work 16 hours dayly for his family or the corporation that sell out our jobs overseas for maximum profit?

They may dont speak our language, or may not have our skin color, but they work and live as any of us!

Today like 100 years ago, a good americam is who build this country: paper for all the workers and deportation to those who fuck our lifes: corporations and politicians.

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