Testimony before the New York City Council on the creation of a Municipal ID Program

SUMMARY

The Committee on Immigration and Nationality Law provided testimony before the New York City Council in favor of Int. No. 253, which would allow New York City to join municipalities nationwide in instituting ID cards for residents regardless of immigration status. Currently, about half a million New Yorkers are undocumented non-U.S. citizens, and thus cannot get a driver’s license or a photo ID under state law. Enacting a municipal ID program, the testimony argued, will help make New York City safer, foster civic participation and benefit the City economically. In addition to undocumented immigrants, the ID program would also benefit other New Yorkers, including those who often have difficulty obtaining proper identification, such as transgender New Yorkers, the homeless,  the formerly incarcerated and the elderly who do not drive but could benefit from a municipal ID.

BILL INFORMATION

Int. 0253-2014 – would create a New York City identity card program.

HEARING INFORMATION

Immigration Committee Hearing, April 30, 2014 (Hearing details & video)

OUTCOME

Signed into law by the Mayor (2014/035) – July 10, 2014