Posted on 07/24/2007 9:20:16 AM PDT by FoxInSocks
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (July 27) - This city is becoming the first in the nation to offer identification cards to illegal immigrants, trying to bring them out of the shadows even as many municipalities crack down on them.
Beginning Tuesday, New Haven will offer the ID cards to all of its 125,000 residents, including some 10,000 to 12,000 illegal immigrants.
The cards will allow immigrants to open bank accounts and use other services that may be unavailable without driver's licenses or state-issued IDs. If they can open bank accounts, immigrants will be less likely to carry large amounts of cash, a practice that makes them easy targets for robbers.
City officials say the cards will also encourage immigrants who are crime victims or witnesses to cooperate with police.
"The simple straightforward purpose here is to build a stronger community," Mayor John DeStefano said Monday. "You can't police a community of people who won't talk to our cops."
Opponents say the cards will encourage more illegal immigration.
"It's going to be a welcome mat for illegal aliens to come to the region, flood the labor market and dry up working-class and middle-class jobs," said Bill Farrel, coordinator of the Southern Connecticut Immigration reform.
DeStefano said that wasn't true.
"Work draws it, not a piece of plastic," the mayor said.
He said the federal government has failed to address immigration-related issues, forcing cities to find ways to manage them.
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.
Days 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.
Junta For Progressive Action, an advocacy group for Latinos, quickly ran out of 50 applications for the cards on Friday, executive director Sarahi Almonte said.
"The benefits outweigh the risks," she said.
Even on liberal AOL, after 20,000-plus votes, 80 percent say no, it is not a good idea.
This might be a handy time for all of us to swing by New Haven and pick up a second identity.
"New Haven: Our Stupidity Is Boundless"
Hey! GOod thinking. I need one for tickets.
What’s to stop Johnny Jihad from walking up and grabbing an ID card and thus allowing him access to everything legal citizens have?
How does this sit with that nitwit Chertoff and “Homeland Security”?
I wonder what Jorge thinks of this in regards to his WOT?
What about our nations “top cop” Gonzales? Where does he weigh in on this?
Crickets.........................
I’m still waiting for a city or town to pass an ordinance that basically says,
“Fully automatic machine-guns are perfectly legal here, regardless of federal law.”
New Haven already...prohibits police from asking about their immigration status.
What a two-faced hypocrite -- complaining about lack of federal enforcement while at the same time refusing to assist that enforcement.
There's a simple way to ensure that everyone in the community talks to the police (if indeed this is the real reason for the ID cards): discourage those who have some reason not to talk to the police from living there. How difficult a concept can this be?
Actually, I think it's malfeasance!
Can ICE get access to the list of people applying for these cards? Could be a good way to track down illegals.
It is a good idea if the destruction of New Haven is your goal.
Is the card good in Cheshire, CT? The city where a family of 4, 3 were killed lived.
Then how about giving bank robbers the keys and combinations to all the bank vaults in CT?
ping
All Federal funding should be brought to an immediate halt here. (Of course we all know that won’t happen.)
The best that can come of this, is that the illegals will leave the state with Sheriff Joe, and begin their trek up north.
New Haven will be wrecked in the next 12 months : )
“Then how about giving bank robbers the keys and combinations to all the bank vaults in CT?”
Yes! It will cut down the violent crime rates!!
: )
Ok. Right. That's where I can tell there is no need to read another word. Just another apology piece.
Hmmmm.....I guess even the CT state laws get *overlooked* in New Haven.
http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=805&q=244772
“Note: If you are not a citizen of the United States, you will be required to show proof of your legal status in this country.”
New Haven’s last attempt to dish out the cards ended up in a massive INS raid that took more than 30 people out of their homes and tossed them back into Mexico.
The aliens would be stupider than stupid if they went to the office for the card this time.
As a side note, DeStefano was OUTRAGED when the fed came in and rounded up those with the cards.
I work in New Haven, and this is just the start of problems here.
But as another sidenote, the murders that happened in Cheshire are something that should be given more attention. Bristol, Meriden, and middletown are towns that are RIDDLED with violent crimes. Bridgeport used to be #1 in the nation for crimes and violence, but these areas of CT are quickly making Bridgeport look almost pleasant.
I gotta get outta here. Anyone need an I.T. Director ?
more likey only in *9* months
Bienvenidos a todos mojados y illegales!!!!
: )
Honestly, what does what happened in Cheshire have to do with New Haven? It wasn't even illegals who committed the crimes.
“I gotta get outta here. Anyone need an I.T. Director ?”
1) You MUST get out of there
2) FR should have a site for FReepers who need jobs.
Don’t use the name “Jose Cuervo” cuz I want to use it. I’m not sure if I’ll use the train station or the post office for my address.
Not too far from New Haven. Pick any city in CT, and ask yourself will the card be good say in New London?
What are you doing in Connecticut? Everyone knows all IT comes from India and those that aren't should be "retraining". By the new definition your expectation of earning enough to get by makes you one of those "unwilling to do jobs others are willing to do". Can you put aside your dignity and pride, learn to use government services for what you used to pay for and consistently garble intricate concepts over the phone?
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