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July 24, 2007
Illegal immigrants to get ID cards in Connecticut
Illegal immigrants to get ID cards in Connecticut
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (Reuters)
As many U.S. cities and states arrest illegal immigrants in raids and toughen laws against them, a Connecticut city is offering to validate them under a controversial, first-in-the-nation ID card program.
Starting Tuesday, New Haven will offer illegal immigrants municipal identification cards that allow access to city services such as libraries and a chance to open bank accounts.
Supporters say the cards will improve public safety and give undocumented workers protections now afforded legal residents. Critics contend it will unleash a flood of illegal immigration, straining services and wasting taxpayer money.
New Haven officials overwhelmingly approved the program last month in a 25 to 1 vote.
Backers and detractors alike say the program appears to fill a vacuum after Congress failed to act on immigration reform, leaving many towns and cities to struggle with how to deal with a growing undocumented population.
Kica Matos, who administers the program for New Haven, said undocumented workers are often targeted by thieves and robbed because they carry cash, a result of not being able to open a bank account."Part of the reason they can't open bank accounts is because they don't have forms of identification that were valid," she said.
She said two banks had already agreed to accept the new city card, which will be offered to all New Haven residents, as legitimate identification sufficient for opening an account.
Local Latino advocacy group Junta for Progressive Action estimates 3,000 to 5,000 illegal immigrants live in the city of 124,000 people, many from Mexico, Ecuador and Guatemala.
Yale University Law School, based in New Haven, helped research the city's idea and volunteered legal services. Several immigrants' rights groups also helped build up local support for the identification cards.
PROTESTS
Opponents hope to rally the public against it. Southern Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Reform says the ID cards will change "the entire country as we know it" and is organizing a protest on Tuesday at city hall.
"There are millions of illegal aliens right around us that when these ID cards are available to them, they will rush to them and get some identification that will allow them to go to other cities," said Ted Pechinski, who leads the group.
North Carolina-based Americans for Legal Immigration PAC has circulated a flier in 40 states urging illegal workers to move to New Haven, said its president William Gheen.
"Maybe New Haven needs to learn, if they want the illegals, then they'll get the illegals," he said.
His flier, in English and Spanish, says: "Come to New Haven CT for sanctuary. Bring your friends and family members quickly."
Officials in several cities including New York and San Francisco have expressed interest in possibly starting similar programs, said Matos.
The new ID, she added, does not easily identify a person as an illegal immigrant. "That is the last thing that we want to have happen," she said. The card was created with several features to appeal to all residents, including a debit component and access to city services such as parks.
Fatima, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, said she is eager to apply for the card."The ID will help me because it's a way to be in this country and get people to know who you are, especially for people who crossed the border and lost their papers," she said. "I feel safe here in New Haven."
Flyer (mostly in Spanish)inviting illegals to relocate to New Haven, CT.
http://www.alipac.us/media/NewHavenCTFinal.PDF
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Wild Thing's comment........
I’m going to beat the rush and start banging my head on the desk now. Can't Paul Newman, Martha Stewart, David Letterman and Chris Dodd get their lawns mowed by legals???? I love Conn. it is a gorgeous State, but this is going to be very bad to do this. This is like a call to illegals to go to Conn. GRRRRRRR
They always say the illegals do the jobs no one else wants. That is such a lie.
The man that does our yard is a Nam vet and his three sons are in business with him. He is awesome and his business provides a way to make a living and work outside. He can't work indoors since Vietnam, he was in country and he had to do a lot of crawling down into tunnels, and since then needs to be outside. His business thrives here, because he is good, honest and we have also become friends.
Posted by Wild Thing at July 24, 2007 12:54 AM
Comments
A related item with video (at link below) from another outraged blogger.
"It's called SB-529 and it works."
"Music to my ears: "Immigration laws have left them no choice but to go back to Mexico" and "people are leaving Georgia for more hospitable states." Guess what? That was exactly the intent!"
"And one of those more hospitable states.... Connecticut, where they give illegal immigrants ID cards and bank accounts. I wonder, is there a limit of one per customer, or can they get one for each social security number they've stolen? An estimated 3,000 to 5,000 illegal immigrants live in the city of 124,000 people, many from Mexico, Ecuador and Guatemala, but whaddya wanna bet that number is about to skyrocket?"
http://www.lindasog.com/archives/2007/07/its_called_sb529.html
Posted by: Les at July 24, 2007 02:35 AM
The sad thing is if we protest against things like this, we're called Racist, prejudiced, bigoted.
So it's okay for them to just walk in the back door, demand rights they don't have and everyone's okay with this?
What's wrong with this picture?
Posted by: Lynn at July 24, 2007 06:19 AM
I live in CT. It was formerly estimated that CT has over 100,000 illegals (3.5 million population), with New Haven at 15,000.
New Haven is already a basket case. Without Yale it could be either worse, or immeasurably better. The ID card business is a union of ideas between two laywers from Yale (who pledge to defend the city pro bono)and a dimiwitted Democrat/socialist machine pol John DeStefano.
Yale is surrounded by a continuous combat zone; even the lefty Yalies are fed up with the crime...assaults, rapes, homicides and other outrages. But they get what they deserve. The city is doomed, and this won't make it any better. Even Joe Lieberman, who has lived there for forty-five years, is moving to Stamford.
I've written off New Haven. It doesn't matter, and the influx of illegals to New Haven will push the remaining stragglers who had faith in the city to suburbs and other place. Let the place reach its own level.
The real problem is that about 30 other cities in the US are watching the Yale example. Keep and eye on this.
Posted by: Rhod at July 24, 2007 06:20 AM
If people would stop to realize the cost of immigration, both financially and culturally, they might have second thoughts. Who do you think steals these illegal immigrants cash? Other illegal immigrants more likely.
Yea Georgia! Some other states are beginning the battle to discourage illegals. Colorado and Oklahoma are enacting laws to forbid the known hiring of illegal immigrants. In spite of our unresponsive Federal govt, we may make headway in reversing the incoming tide of Mexico's and central America"s unwanted.
Posted by: TomR at July 24, 2007 06:21 AM
By the way, the history of New Haven from the 1960's is a case study on how the infection of liberalism can kill anything. Where you find universities like Yale, you find destruction and despair cohabitating with privilege. This kind of thing usually ends in revolution, and the illegals might bring it.
Posted by: Rhod at July 24, 2007 06:24 AM
Better Connecticutt than Pennsylvania, LOL. This is nuts. Haven't the libs caused enough problems already with their war on poverty and their war on America.
Why are they so eager to give away someone elses money to promote their stupid programs, that never work.
Posted by: Mark at July 24, 2007 08:20 AM
I wish those people that support ILLEGAL immigration would have an ILLEGAL immigrant family break into THEIR home, eat THEIR food, demand that the homeowner pays for their education, social security, medical care and all other so called "entitlements". Supporters of ILLEGAL immigrants (like so many other liberals) will never understand any logical and common sense concepts until it affects them PERSONALLY. They only use raw emotion to direct their actions. But once it affects THEM personally the light bulb called logic turns on and they finally see the light. There is no "gray" area here. Its black and white, illegal and legal, right and wrong. ILLEGAL immigration is wrong. We owe them nothing. They have arrogantly and rudely broken into our home demanding rights they have neither earned nor deserve. Too many men and women have sacrificed themselves for this country to simply give it away.
Posted by: jason at July 24, 2007 08:23 AM
WOW, how original. Just wave a magic want (ID card) and the problem goes away.
Last time I applied for a bank account, the bank had to follow Federal Regulations and I needed to provide a Social Security Number. If the banks in New Haven are apparently not following Federal Regulations, does that mean the FDIC doesn't have to insure the accounts?
Posted by: BobF at July 24, 2007 08:33 AM
In expensive blue state Connecticut, where do there illegals LIVE and why hasn't property values declined there? The Catholic churches and prisons take them in, eh? Illegal = Illegal!
- NO Illegal EAGLE here 2007 !!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at July 24, 2007 09:06 AM
I just heard that these ID cards will double as a 'debit' card for parking meters and other various services in the city.
How nice of them all at the expense of LEGAL citizens, who will in the end be paying for all of this.
Posted by: Mark at July 24, 2007 12:19 PM
I am stunned. A catholic church is harboring illegals and getting them jobs in Fallbrook, Ca.
Now ID cards for illegals, so they don't get robbed.
If I break the law, I assumed it would land me in
jail or prison. But, if my government can pick and
choose which laws to enforce,I guess I can also pick
and choose which laws I wish to obey. I am immune to
arrest, now, aren't I. Fortunately, I am old enough
that by the time the mexican illegals finally take
over the United States and completely trash it, I will be dead. Visit places like Tijuana and see how truly disgusting these people are.
Posted by: karen at July 24, 2007 08:47 PM
Les, thank you, and thanks for the link. Linda is my Blog Mom she helped me start my blog. We have been friends in person for many years.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 24, 2007 11:43 PM
Lynn that is exactly what they do, it is part of how they intimidate people also. To call them names and make them stay quiet and take a persons freedom of speech away.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 24, 2007 11:46 PM
Rhod, thanks so much for sharing about this.
I agree, liberalism kills a town and cities. The last time I got to drive through the upper East coast I saw so many little business with "out of business" signs on their doors. It was so sad. That was about 10 years ago.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 24, 2007 11:52 PM
Tom, that is great. Wouldn't it be something if little by little each State would stand up to this and not cave in at all. Then even the strong liberal ones might have to do the right thing too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 24, 2007 11:55 PM
Mark, hahahaha well I used to live in Calif. it can't get much worse than that.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 24, 2007 11:57 PM
Jason that is a great way to put it because that is exaclty how it is!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 25, 2007 12:00 AM
Bob, it is maddening isn't it. Come here illegally and get all the goodies.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 25, 2007 12:05 AM
Darth, not sure, but what they did in Calif, in the nicer areas was this. They get a house and rent it, it can have high rent it is ok with them, thehn they have tons of family and friends all live in the house together. Like say 20 people living full or part time in a 3 bedroom house.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 25, 2007 12:08 AM
Mark, oh my gosh, like all expenses paid, just come in illegally.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 25, 2007 12:13 AM
Karen, wow, and I know where Fallbrook, Calif. is too. My husband and I lived in Southern Calif. for many years.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 25, 2007 12:14 AM
