A U.S. judge has struck down a city law that sought to prohibit local authorities from issuing identification cards to illegal immigrants, ruling that the law was unconstitutional and at odds with federal immigration policy. The law passed in a small border town, was taken up by civil rights groups and immigrant activist organizations, who claimed that it illegally restricted access to fundamental services and discriminated against immigrant communities.
Proponents argue that city ID programs are necessary for undocumented immigrants who need identification to access healthcare, open bank accounts, enroll children in school, and interface with local law enforcement. They argue that banning the issuing of IDs by local governments only drives undocumented individuals further underground, where there is increased vulnerability and distrust within communities. The advocates welcomed the move as one towards seeing residents treated fairly, irrespective of their immigration status.
Critics contend that allowing municipal governments to issue IDs to illegal immigrants discourages federal immigration enforcement and weakens documentation policies in inconsistency between jurisdictions. Some politicians contend that municipal ID programs can be exploited and that only state or federal identification should be accepted. Others see such decisions as weakening states' rights to approve local policies on immigration enforcement.
The ruling is the latest in the lawsuits on state and local authorities over immigration matters. With other states considering similar bans, the ruling could be a landmark case for future litigation on identification methods for illegal immigrants.
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