Mayor Villaraigosa wants city ID card for immigrants

L.A., like other cities, wants these ID cards which will help reduce crimes. Immigrants can't have bank accounts now and these cards will help that problem.   - - Donna Poisl

By Catherine Saillant, Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is pushing a plan to create an official city photo identification card that could double as a prepaid ATM card and help immigrants get access to banking services.

The initiative could reduce crime because fewer people would have to carry cash, but critics say it's another ill-advised City Hall effort to accommodate illegal immigrants.

The idea for the city ID card originated in his office, the mayor said, as part of previous efforts to help immigrants open bank accounts so they wouldn't become targets of crime.
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