Municipal ID Card andpits Multiple Uses

María D DomínguezMaría D. DomínguezOakland City ID Card Coalition

Why is it important to have an ID?A government issued identification card is often A government issued identification card is often required to access goods, services, facilities, and institutions for admittance, participation, and eligibility verification purposes

Who lacks an ID?The following communities often have difficulties The following communities often have difficulties obtaining an ID card:─ Undocumented Immigrants─ LGBT─ Children & Youth─ Elderly─ Homeless

L i─ Low-income

Undocumented ImmigrantsNot eligible to apply for a state issued ID card if Not eligible to apply for a state issued ID card if they cannot prove U.S. “legal presence”May be immigrants in the process of adjusting y g p j gtheir legal status, but are pending final approvalWhile some immigrants have foreign-government g g gissued ID cards, i.e. Matricula Consular/Consulate ID, these have its limitations─ Not available to all foreign nationals; not widely

accepted; too expensive; may be used as an identifying mark for discrimination identifying mark for discrimination

LGBT CommunitySome members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, Some members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender variant community may face difficulties changing their name or gender on their state issued ID card─ May want to have a different gender or none on their ID

May not have “medical proof” to complete authorization form for gender/name changeMay not want to engage in process of changing gender identity on state ID due to cost and time constraintsconstraints

Children & Youth CommunityMay be runaway who does not have access to May be runaway who does not have access to personal records or documents right awayUnaware that may qualify for reduced fee state ID y q yor may not meet all program requirementsIf do not qualify for reduced fee, cost may be a q y , yburden to self or parents/guardiansMay rely on school-issued ID, but may have usage limitations; also not issued by all schools

Elderly CommunityWhile a special free or reduced fee senior citizen While a special free or reduced fee senior citizen state ID may be available, depending on state, some may not meet age requirement yet or other qualifying criteria─ In California, anyone may exchange a valid driver

li f f ID d if l bl t d i license for no-fee ID card if no longer able to drive safely because of physical or mental condition

Homeless CommunityWhile homeless people can use a local agency or While homeless people can use a local agency or friend address to apply for state ID, they may not have access to personal records or documents necessary to applyMay not qualify for reduced fee state ID due to strict program requirements

What is a Municipal ID Card?An identification card issued by a municipal (city) An identification card issued by a municipal (city) government based on a person’s residence in that municipalityMunicipal governments have the authority to issue ID’s at their discretion─ Municipalities can issue ID’s to everyone regardless of

immigration status as it does not violate federal or state lawsstate laws

Federal LawThe federal REAL ID Act of 2005 compels state The federal REAL ID Act of 2005 compels state governments to require their state ID card or state driver’s license applicants to meet the “legal presence” immigration status requirement─ The REAL ID Act does not apply to county or city

t i d ID’ !government issued ID’s!

State LawState constitutions, like that of California, usually State constitutions, like that of California, usually give counties and cities the authority to have direct control over local affairs to further the health, welfare, and public safety of its residents

Multiple Uses of Municipal ID Cardp p

Civic Public Safety & Economic Civic Integration

Public Safety & Public Health

Economic Participation

Civic IntegrationEnables local residents to increase their Enables local residents to increase their participation in various forms of civic and community life by creating more accessA municipal ID is a legitimate, local government issued, all-in-one multiple use card that is widely available and affirms each persons identityIt helps build a sense of community and local pride among its diverse members

Public Safety & Public HealthEnables card holders to feel safer when interacting Enables card holders to feel safer when interacting with local police as they have a valid form of ID─ Used to report incidents, solicit police reports, and

facilitate citation issuanceValuable to healthcare personnel to identify

ti t b t il d t h dditi l i f patients; can be tailored to have additional info Helpful in the course of verifying age in some i t (b t t t l h l t b )instances (but not to procure alcohol or tobacco)Useful to reunify lost children & adults, if holder

Economic ParticipationUsed to interact with financial institutions, i.e. open Used to interact with financial institutions, i.e. open bank accounts, wire transfers, check cashingBy incorporating technology, ID card can be used y p g gy,as an ATM, debit card, and/or monetary value storage; parking card; transportation passCard can be tied to discounts and other incentives to boost commerce and “buy local” programsCan be used with local currency programs

Civic Integration

Public Safety & Public Health

Economic ParticipationIntegration

• Library• Education

Public Health

• Police / Law Enforcement

Participation

• Financial Institutions

• Transportation• Other Local

Programs

Interaction• Healthcare /

Hospitals

• Local Commerce

• Discounts / Programs• Community

Building• Legitimacy

• Emergency /Vital Health Info

Incentives• Wealth

CreationLegitimacy • Age Verification • Local Currency

Other BenefitsLess cards to carry and lose Less cards to carry and lose ID card programs can be tailored to meet local needs and requirementsqCan strengthen city sanctuary status (if applicable)Shows commitment to integrate all residents Shows commitment to integrate all residents, regardless of immigration status, thus bolstering support for wider immigrant civil rights movement

Privacy ConcernsPossibility that the ID card and the personal data Possibility that the ID card and the personal data collected by municipalities may be used to harm undocumented personsThus, records should be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law─ Under the exemption for personal files which constitute

an invasion of privacy if disclosedUsing argument that release of data creates public ─ Using argument that release of data creates public safety risk and that program serves a public safety purpose

Privacy ConcernsThe IRS issues Individual Taxpayer Identification The IRS issues Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to individuals who are not eligible to obtain a Social Security Number─ Even though the IRS does not guarantee that ITIN

application info will not be shared with immigration authorities thousands of undocumented immigrants authorities, thousands of undocumented immigrants have applied and are not discouraged

Some municipalities have developed other means So e u c pa t es a e de e oped ot e ea sto protect information

Other ConcernsSome worry that a municipal ID card may become Some worry that a municipal ID card may become a tool for identifying undocumented people and thus become a way to target them when presented─ But the municipal ID does not reveal immigration status ─ The program benefits all local residents, so there are

i ti f th “d t d” t bt i thi dincentives for the “documented” to obtain this card─ The program should be marketed to the entire local

population, not just to undocumented immigrantspopulation, not just to undocumented immigrants

Municipal ID Card LimitationsNot a license to driveNot a license to driveUsually not intended as proof of legal age to procure alcohol or tobaccopNot accepted by federal/state agencies for federal/state identification purposes such as:p p─ Airport security/boarding─ Elections/voting─ U.S. employment eligibility (to complete I-9 forms)

Key LessonsCreate multiple use for municipal ID cardCreate multiple use for municipal ID cardBuild broad based coalition of supporters that value common benefitsEngage private sector stakeholders that may be willing to provide funding for municipal ID programg p g p p gSeek the political support of police administrationLeverage existing local policies that may be e e age e st g oca po c es t at ay bestrengthened by creating a municipal ID card

SourcesJunta for Progressive Action Inc. (Junta) and Unidad Latina en Acción (ULA). 2005. “A City to Model: Six Proposals for Protecting Public Safety and Improving Relationships Between Immigrant Communities and the and Improving Relationships Between Immigrant Communities and the City of New Haven.”Luna, Daniel. 2008. “Municipal Identification/Resident Card Legislation B kd ” Citi F All I t ti O C iti C f S Breakdown.” Cities For All: Integrating Our Communities Conference, San Francisco, California, February 16, 2008. Oakland City ID Card Coalition. 2008-2009. Various Meetings. Centro y gLegal de la Raza, Oakland, California. Robles, Miguel. 2008. “Workshop Objectives and Coalition Building Strategies ” Cities For All: Integrating Our Communities Conference San Strategies. Cities For All: Integrating Our Communities Conference, San Francisco, California, February 16, 2008.San Francisco Municipal ID Card Meeting. 2008. “Working Group on Building Partnerships ” City Hall San Francisco California April 25 2008 Building Partnerships.” City Hall, San Francisco, California, April 25, 2008.