New Haven, Conn., Aprroves ID Cards for All

Including Illegal Immigrants

New Haven, Conn., has become the first town in the United States to approve municipal ID cards, reports the Hartford Courant.

The new official identity cards will be available to all of New Haven's residents even the city's illegal immigrants. This news come to a great relief to many of the city's illegal residents who were living in fear as they were increasingly becoming targets of robbers, due to the fact that they had to keep their money in their house because they could not open bank accounts without official ID. The new card will allow these people to open bank accounts as well as act as debit card for certain businesses operating in New Haven.

The ID cards will also allow its holders to gain access to many public services such as, libraries and parks.

The campaign for the municipal ID cards in New Haven has been in the works for two years. The Board of Alderman, which contains 30 members, 25 voted for the implementation of the municipal ID cards, giving a solid victory to those who have been working hard on the campaign.

Kica Matos, who lead the campaign for Mayor John DeStefano and who is also the administer of the community services department told the Hartford Courant, "Tonight, New Haven took a stance in support of human rights and justice and that feels really good."

In showing their majority support for the New Haven municipal ID cards the Board of Alderman also came to an agreement to accept monetary support from the First City Fund Corporation in the amount of $237,000. The money will be used to help run the ID programme.

New Haven's Mayor John DeStefano Jr. told the Stamford Times that, "This card will allow all carriers to receive access to the services that they deserve as residents of New Haven."