City of El Paso will implement ID card program for those who can't get state-issued IDs
Published: Thu, 04/27/23
City of El Paso will implement ID card program for those who can't get state-issued IDs
El Pasoans hold up posters resembling a municipal identification card at the City Council meeting on April 25, 2023.
(KFOX14/CBS4)
KFOX14/CBS4
by Fallon Fischer
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The El Paso City Council on Tuesday voted in favor of implementing a municipal identification card program that will benefit those who cannot obtain a driver’s license or other state-issued IDs.
Some of these individuals might include senior citizens, unhoused individuals or individuals who are home insecure, people with disabilities, veterans, transgender individuals, and mixed-status families.
Without the right form of identification card, a person may not be able to open a bank account or cash a check, pick up a sick child from school, access healthcare services, file a report with the police department, borrow a book from the library, or collect a package from the post office.
City Council members voted unanimously on a resolution that directs the city manager to first examine and prepare a report regarding the feasibility and benefits of issuing El Paso City Identification Cards to residents and develop a plan for implementation of an El Paso City Identification Card Program.
I am so happy with Council’s decision today. This program will help so many underserved communities that for one reason or another are unable to obtain another form of government identification. Now, individuals with these problems will be able to have access to services that require an ID,” said Rep. Alexsandra Annello, who placed the item on Tuesday's agenda. “I want to congratulate the Border Network for Human Rights for their continued campaign on this issue and for all the groundwork and research that they have put into this over the last decade. This is a big win for El Paso.”
The program has been repeatedly presented to City Council by the Border Network for Human Rights since 2014. A similar resolution was first introduced to City Council in 2017, but it failed to pass.
“All El Pasoans will have the opportunity to participate in our booming economic developments by strengthening our community safety and security, and further integrate into our communities. We are proud of the trajectory and accomplishments of this campaign and look forward to continuing our work of outreaching our community to guarantee a successful and efficient community ID program alongside the City of El Paso," said Fernando Garcia, executive director of BNHR.