New Jersey Cities Give Illegal Immigrants IDs

While states and local governments nationwide enact imperative measures to curb illegal immigration, two New Jersey cities are accommodating illegal aliens by offering them special identification cards to facilitate life in the U.S.

The  Garden State municipalities have joined a handful of others across the country—including San Francisco, California and New Haven, Connecticut—in issuing or endorsing official photo identification cards to illegal immigrants in their communities. No proof of legal residence required and no questions asked.

The cards are essential, Latino rights advocates say, because they allow illegal aliens to get medical treatment at taxpayer-funded clinics, borrow books from local libraries, cash checks and access other public services offered by the cities or counties they live in. Without a government-issued photo identification, these things are usually off limits to undocumented immigrants.

So Princeton and Trenton offer official photo ID cards for immigrants who otherwise can’t obtain them because they’re in the U.S. illegally. In both areas, police and county prosecutors firmly endorse the program which has the ardent support of virtually all local public and elected officials.

The Trenton Community ID Card is accepted by all local and county law enforcement agencies, public schools, public health facilities, city parks and swimming pools and some banks and private businesses. Not all will accept the card initially, according to a warning attached to a colorful brochure touting the card. It also features a hotline to report “difficulties” that may arise if a law enforcement agent rejects the card’s validity.

The Princeton ID cards, which will start being issued next week, will also be accepted by local law enforcement officers as well as all public facilities. The town’s police chief claims the new cards will provide authorities with “valuable information.” For example, the chief said, if a person gets banged up in an accident or needs a translator all the information on the card helps police and the victim.

New Jersey has long offered illegal immigrants sanctuary and there is a statewide effort to give them special rights and privileges. Last year a blue-ribbon advisory panel, created by the governor to integrate the state’s 400,000 illegal aliens, recommended issuing “driver privilege cards” and discounted college tuition to undocumented immigrants.

The push continues under a new governor even though the majority of New Jersey residents oppose offering public services to illegal immigrants, especially driver’s licenses. Last spring a poll revealed that most New Jersey residents are against granting illegal immigrants any type of driver’s license or discounted tuition at public colleges.