Minneapolis Considers Resident ID Cards

Immigrant rights advocates are pushing the Minneapolis City Council closer to issuing ID that would be available to all residents over the age of 14, regardless of their legal status in the US. Cities across the US have started issuing such cards to aid undocumented immigrants, which some critics say is an incentive to breaking the law.

Backers of the ID cards in Minneapolis say the issue is not restricted to immigration, with the cards also meeting the needs of many other constituents, according to City Council member, Alondra Cano, the chief sponsor of the new ordinance. Cano says that the new ID cards will also help the GLBTQ community, elderly people, young people, and the homeless.

City officials claim that the new municipal ID cards, currently in the early stages of development, will be shown to the City Council before the end of 2018. The city has created an internal working group in their Neighborhood and Community Relations department, which is led by Latino community specialist and immigration activist, Mariano Espinoza.

Should the current proposal go ahead, the new ID card would feature the name, address, and date of birth of the person. Cato said on Tuesday that city officials were exploring possible partnerships with small businesses, Hennepin County Library, the Minnesota Bankers Association, and the public works department. The ID card could make it easier for people to open bank accounts, gain a library card, and possibly even discount parking rates.