![\"Identification\"](\"http:\/\/live-immigrationreform.pantheonsite.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/id-card-generic-rotator-675x450-300x199.jpg\")
On June 8, the Paterson, New Jersey City Council voted to give municipal ID cards to illegal aliens. Under the program, anyone who shows proof they live in Paterson would be eligible, regardless of their immigration status.<\/p>\nOn June 8, the Paterson, New Jersey City Council voted to give municipal ID cards to illegal aliens. Under the program, anyone who shows proof they live in Paterson would be eligible, regardless of their immigration status.<\/p>\n
Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez predicted<\/a> that thousands of individuals, particularly illegal aliens, would apply to receive the new ID. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be surprised how many people need this type of ID in this city,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n City officials estimate that it will cost at least $7,000 to produce just 500 of the cards, and doesn\u2019t include the cost of administering the program in its estimate. Though city councilmembers reportedly want recipients to pay $10-$15 per card, the mayor according to other officials, would like the card to be doled out free of charge.<\/p>\n FAIR estimates illegal immigration already cost New Jersey taxpayers approximately $3.34 billion in 2010. Making municipal IDs available to illegal aliens will no doubt increase the number of illegal aliens in the city and state as word spreads of the availability of the ID.<\/p>\n The extent to which the municipal IDs may be used is still unclear. Donna Nelson-Ivy, the director of the Health Department that would be responsible for administering the cards, said<\/a> it will help the city\u2019s population in accessing social, library, and medical services.<\/p>\n Granting municipal ID cards invites fraud and abuse, as local governments are generally ill-equipped to verify the identity of individuals seeking the IDs, and permit the use of easily non-secure documents to demonstrate identity. Moreover, issuing such cards only serves to encourage, rather than discourage, illegal immigration, making local governments accomplices in illegal alien law-breaking.