Hey guys! This article is about a new identification card, for undocumented immigrants in New York. It let’s them meet basic needs like housing, bank accounts, legal services and cultural institutions. It gives them many rights they were denied until now. Although this news came out in January, I thought it was very relatable to our class. I would love to hear what your ideas are on the benefits and maybe negatives of this revolutionary card.http://www.ibtimes.com/immigrant-identification-card-new-yorks-id-program-watched-immigration-reform-1783722
I keep seeing ads for these identification cards on the subways! Personally, I think it is a really great idea. I think it has so many positive benefits and will really assist many of the immigrants here in New York City. There are of course people opposed to this idea, but the illegal immigrants are here in the United States, so instead of trying to make immigration reforms, I think programs like this will be really helpful. Ultimately, I believe it will also save the city money in the long run. It is also helpful to adults who were brought into the country illegally as kids, which was out of their control. This will allow them to have more access to government assistance and programs throughout the city, especially if they have children that are citizens of the country and they are not.
Even though on the surface the ID cards seem like an efficient way for undocumented people to navigate day to day life and the paperwork of governmental programs, I’m worried about the actual feasibility of registering undocumented people for this.
For example, with the last census, President Obama started an initiative to make undocumented citizens feel as if they could register with the census without fear of deportation, which sounds efficient right? If the census has a more accurate depiction of neighborhood’s populations and demographics, the government will be able to aptly respond to their specific needs and issues. However, despite a large media campaign, undocumented citizens still felt that this census initiative was aimed at finding the large, undocumented populations and deporting them.
Using this as a point of comparison with the new ID cards, I’m worried that the groups it’s targeted at will not feel safe enough to register with the city, making the new initiative more about aesthetic than function.