El Paso City Council unanimously approves plan for community identification cards

The El Paso City Council advanced a plan to bring an Enhanced Library Card program to vulnerable residents to help them file police reports, open bank accounts and seek protective orders.

The City Council unanimously voted on the ID program at Tuesday's meeting.

Currently, residents without state or federal government identification are locked out of a number of civic and economic opportunities. Aside from access to government services, photo IDs are necessary, in some cases, to pick a child up at school or to seek admission into a hospital or to meet requirements for multiple forms of identification.

The city's Enhanced Library Card program, set to launch in April 2024, would solve those problem and provide an alternative form of identification.

The city has not decided on a design for the new cards, but it is likely that applicants will receive an identification card that includes a photo of the cardholder, along with their address, date of birth, expiration date, and their library card number.

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The identification card, however, would not replace a state-issued driver's license or other instances where a state ID is required. It, for example, could not be used to vote or purchase alcohol or tobacco.

Residents looking to apply for one of the cards will be asked to provide proof of identification, from a school identification card, a Sam's Club card or bank card. Other similar programs in Texas allow applicants to submit inmate identification cards or a Mexican matrícula consular card. Applicants must also provide other documents showing their name and address, such as a utility bill, pay stub or medical record, on a three-point scale, with some documents worth more than others.

City Council directed staff in April to conduct a study examining the possibilities of launching a municipal identification program. Team lead Dionne Mack reported that staff looked at privacy concerns and best practices nationwide before recommending the Enhanced Library Card model over a straight city-run or third-party-operated program.

"Having an ID is essential for civic and economic opportunities within our city," Mack said, adding that a municipal identification card would allow residents to "fully participate" in city life.

The council's vote follows a move by the El Paso Commissioners Court earlier this year to allocate funding for a municipal identification program — the city's team is set to present its findings and recommendations to commissioners next week.

Vote caps off years of work for municipal identification program

El Paso city Rep. Alexsandra Annello, who will soon depart City Council to run for the Texas House of Representatives, introduced Tuesday's community identification proposal and was brought to tears remembering the long road to the council's "historic" vote.

Annello noted that she first introduced a municipal identification program during her first term in 2017, but former Mayor Dee Margo broke the council's tie to kill the proposal.

"I'm really excited here today," Annello said before getting choked up. "This is the first thing I put on council, and it's not lost on me that this will be one of the last things I do."

But the community identification program has also had a champion in Border Network for Human Rights, whose members showed up in force during Tuesday's meeting to voice support for the program.

"This has been a long journey," said BNHR President Fernando Garcia, who said the program would benefit local businesses and residents alike, as well as boost safety. "This is good for our development and our community."

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BNHR Communications Director Alan Lizarraga called the program "an issue that many ... hold close to our hearts."

"We deserve the opportunity to take part in the everyday privileges of a community life," he said. "(These IDs) will make for a better and more connected El Paso."

BNHR activist Betty Camargo likewise recalled the organization's "I am El Paso" campaign aimed at making community identification cards a reality in the Sun City and hailed city leaders for finally making it a reality.

"In today's Texas (political) climate, El Paso is once again showing that integration is important," Camargo said.

Another BNHR activist, Miriam Guererro, expressed a similar sentiment.

"A community ID for all El Paso residents is a step in the right direction to guarantee everyone has access to ... the essential services they need," Guererro said. "I am El Paso (and) I support the creation of a community ID."

In all, more than a dozen residents spoke or submitted comments in support of the proposal — none spoke in opposition.

Pilot program to begin with four libraries in April, expand as needed

Mack and her team ultimately recommended the Enhanced Library Card program because it is less expensive than other models and more secure, thanks to state and federal laws regarding public library records.

"Privacy is a huge concern and was one of the things that kept some other municipalities from moving forward," she said. "We think we've addressed some of those issues and concerns."

Across Texas, multiple cities have used the Enhanced Library Card model to provide community identification cards. San Antonio has issued around 1,155 since 2020, Dallas has issued 284 since last year and Austin, which started its program in May, has issued more than 1,200.

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"We're really proud this is something our libraries could do to serve our community in addition to the library services that we do traditionally," Mack said.

The program will open with four locations, one mobile processing center, a cache of 10,000 cards and several pop-up events at $105,451. The cost to add the remaining six locations will be about $56,000, according to the team's report, with a recurring cost of $85,000 annually to keep the program afloat.

Residents looking to apply for one of the cards will be asked to provide proof of identification, from a state driver's license or U.S. passport to a Sam's Club card or bank card.

Mack said the team plans to report to City Council in February before rolling out the pilot program in April.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso City Council greenlights community identification card program