Durham City leaders entered the national debate on immigration by officially recognizing a form of identification currently issued by the Mexican consulate to Mexican nationals living in the U.S.
The city council voted Tuesday on a resolution prompted by the Bill of Rights Defense Committee to allow Matricula Consular card holders to present it as a valid proof of identification within the city.
An amended form of the resolution was approved 5-2, allowing only police to use the Consular as a valid form of identification.
Prior to the vote, Mayor William Bell limited public comment only to Durham residents. That caused a number of opponents from out of town who'd come to speak to walk out en masse; shouting their disapproval as they left.
The Council hopes the move will aid immigrants caught in traffic stops or other situations where a lack of identification can lead to an arrest.
Advocates of adopting the resolution say the question of identification is a matter of concern primarily for the police department. Supporters maintain that a formal resolution will help Mexicans living in Durham obtain legal documents such as marriage and business licenses.
“It’s basically a way for people to be able to say this is my name, my address and this is my nationality. It is not a stepping stone for obtaining a social security card or anything else,” says Ronald Garcia, community organizer at Centro Hispano.
However, opponents say it presents a larger issue than those with local police departments.
They say recognizing the Matricula Consular would open the door for illegal immigrants to fly under the radar and as a result, potentially make Durham a safe haven for illegal immigrants.
“This simply isn’t just about law enforcement stopping people in Durham and having to figure out who these people are,” said Daren Baskst, John Locke Foundation director of Legal and Regulatory Services. “According to the resolution you can have other benefits that the city offers. You want to make sure only people legally in this country are getting the benefits of living here.”
Before the vote was taken, the city attorney emphisized a vote in favor of the resolution was only an endorsement of a concept.
Patrick Baker said it was not an ordinance, statute, or law and carried no legal weight.
Acceptance of the identification is a growing trend nationwide.
Austin, Texas was the first city to recognize the document in 2000. Since then, approximately 400 cities have adopted the identification form as valid, according to a report by the Federal Government Accountability office.
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