I got an awesome response to my email inquiry to the Seattle Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs a few days ago. I referenced the IDNYC program, which issues municipal ID cards to residents of New York City regardless of immigration status, and asked them if we had a similar program in the works to protect immigrants.
The response I got stated that they were watching the progress of these programs and the country very closely right now, and said that the reason Seattle does not have such a program is because Washington state issues drivers licenses/state IDs to immigrants regardless of status.
Transcription of the email I got:
Thanks so much for contacting the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA).
We have been closely watching developments in other cities regarding a municipal identification program. Often cities will institute municipal ID systems because the state legislature has complied with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005. This act mandates that all states create a state-issued ID card (usually a driver’s license) that requires the bearer to present proof of legal residence. As you can imagine, this presents an obstacle for vulnerable immigrants who are undocumented/have no proof of legal residence.
Washington State is currently the only state that continues to issue driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status. Starting in 2018, the Department of Homeland Security will require passports or "enhanced" driver’s licenses to clear airport security. State legislators are trying to figure out how to respond in a way that's in keeping with our history as a welcoming state.
OIRA continues to remain vigilant of the developments in the state legislature regarding this issue.
Come to Washington state, we’re not perfect but we’re better than a lot of places right now.
