In the city of New Haven, an unprecedented program for the United States is launching, under which illegal immigrants will be issued special identification cards, opening up a whole range of previously unavailable opportunities – from optional ones like visiting libraries to very significant ones, such as the right to open a bank account. Proponents of the program argue that it will not only protect undocumented workers but also contribute to public safety in general. Critics see it as a guarantee of an influx of illegal immigrants and a new burden on taxpayers. However, both agree on one thing: this initiative will fill a kind of legal vacuum left by Congress, which refused to complete immigration reform and left many cities to deal with the ever-increasing flow of undocumented immigrants on their own.
In June, the New Haven administration approved the launch of the program by an overwhelming majority – 25 to one. Other cities, including megacities like New York and San Francisco, are also considering implementing similar programs.
Kica Matos, head of a local Latino rights group, told Reuters that illegal immigrants often become victims of robberies because, without the ability to open a bank account, they are forced to carry their savings with them. The municipal cards that will be issued to illegal immigrants in New Haven could solve this problem. According to the activist, two local banks have already agreed to accept these cards, which will be issued to all residents of New Haven regardless of their legal status. However, this very circumstance could be a real gift for illegal immigrants of all kinds and occupations, including those with openly criminal inclinations. The fact is that the new-style IDs will be issued to both illegal immigrants and native-born Americans, and based on the information they contain, it will be extremely difficult to distinguish one from the other. 'That's exactly what we wanted,' Matos admits.
Thus, anyone who receives such a card in New Haven will then be able to travel throughout the country, enjoying many of the rights and opportunities of a legal resident. According to activists, New Haven, with a total population of 124,000, is home to between 3,000 and 5,000 illegal immigrants, primarily from Mexico, Ecuador, and Guatemala. However, experts warn that this small number could increase significantly – from now on, any illegal immigrant only needs to reach Connecticut, where they will receive a document that opens the door to America.
Opponents of the innovation still hope to stop the legislative machine. The organization 'Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Reform' warns that if the program is launched, 'the whole country will no longer be as we know it.' 'There are millions of foreigners in the United States who are free to rush to Connecticut and obtain these documents, which will then allow them to move to other states,' says the head of the organization, Ted Pechinsky. His words are based on real facts: the North Carolina-based migrant rights organization 'Americans for Legal Migration' is spreading information about the Connecticut legal innovation in 40 states and urging all illegal workers to go there. 'Maybe New Haven needs to learn this truth from its own experience,' Pechinsky concludes. 'If you want illegal immigrants, you'll get them.'
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