CA: Identification card measure intended to help 'invisible' immigrants

SFGate.com ^ | 9/19/07 | Wyatt Buchanan

[NormsRevenge]

San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano introduced an ordinance Tuesday to give every person living in San Francisco the option of obtaining a city-issued identification card, a plan those who favor tougher restrictions on immigration say would undermine federal law.

The proposal - supported by Mayor Gavin Newsom and several other supervisors - comes as San Francisco faces criticism nationwide for its status as a sanctuary city, which means city policy forbids the use of any city resources to enforce federal immigration law.

The city also is in the process of filling a newly created post of "immigrant rights administrator," whose job it would be to ensure the sanctuary policy is followed by all city departments.

Ammiano said the identification card would help end the marginalization of people who are in the country illegally when it comes to basic public services and participation in civic life.

"If you don't have an identification card, if you don't have certain papers, then you are invisible," Ammiano said.

To obtain the card, people would have to demonstrate that they live in San Francisco and that they are who they say they are - which could be accomplished by presenting an identification card from a foreign country.

Ammiano envisions the cards being used to gain access to city health care programs, to obtain a library card and to register children for schools.

Ammiano said he has received assurances that the program would not run afoul of U.S. immigration laws. "A lot of people are asking, 'Well, are you breaking the law?' and our understanding is that we are not," he said.

A spokesman for City Attorney Dennis Herrera would not comment.

[DoughtyOne]

It sure is nice watching every little hamlet in the nation develop their own foreign policy. But then when your leader is MIA on an issue, or poping up with solutions only Ted Kennedy, La Raza and Voz De Aztlan could buy into, what should I expect?

[laweeks]

“CA: Identification card measure intended to help ‘invisible’ immigrants”

Didn’t the article’s title mean “ . . . to help UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS?

[NurdlyPeon]

Unless the card says “LEGAL” or “ILLEGAL” on it, it still doesn’t mean jack sh$t. It just “shows” (not “proves”) that they live in S.F. We really need to cut off all federal dollars to that toilet-by-the-bay.

[FlingWingFlyer]

To obtain the card, people would have to demonstrate that they live in San Francisco...

ROTFLMAO! That's why you see so many empty lots in places like San Fernasco. They provide "addresses" for illegal aliens and welfare queens.

[archy]

Unless the card says “LEGAL” or “ILLEGAL” on it, it still doesn’t mean jack sh$t. It just “shows” (not “proves”) that they live in S.F.

It'll be accepted as a *government-issued identy document* for voter's registration. Bet on it.

Likely also for health benefits/welfare, and very likely for firearms purchases, since few illegals have ever been entered into the NCIC or NICS Firearms *Instant Check* system.