Members of the hope to meet with Dallas city council members soon. They want their proposal to use library cards as valid identification to be included in the next Dallas budget, which is approved in September.
TOP said that would help many groups that frequently have difficulty getting the help they need: undocumented people, the formerly incarcerated and people experiencing homelessness.
鈥淢any times, we don鈥檛 realize how much an identification is needed until the moment we don鈥檛 have one,鈥� said Jessica Azua, TOP Immigration Justice campaign director. 鈥淏ut right now, to get your COVID vaccine or your booster shot, you need to show who you are.鈥�
Dallas resident Fidelia Barraza said she has been unable to get an appointment at the Mexican Consulate to renew her 尘补迟谤铆肠耻濒补, a form of ID that鈥檚 recognized by police agencies, employers and banks. The ID expired a year ago.
鈥�Con la tarjeta yo podr铆a ir a comprar las medicinas de los ni帽os. Si me piden una identificaci贸n en la farmacia, pues podr茅 mostrar la tarjeta,鈥� Barraza said in Spanish.
(鈥淲ith the card I would be able buy medication. If they ask me for identification at the pharmacy I can then show my card.鈥�)
The enhanced library card would show the recipient鈥檚 photo, name, address, date of birth and phone number. It would be accepted by the police and other city departments as a valid ID.
Certain agencies in San Antonio already recognize the enhanced library cards as a valid form of ID.
鈥淲e鈥檝e issued library cards to people who just got out of prison for many years so the idea of issuing cards was nothing new to us,鈥� Dale McNeill, San Antonio Public Library鈥檚 Assistant Director of Public Services said.
The San Antonio library system has issued 150 cards at four of their branch locations since November 2020.
McNeill said establishing 鈥渋dentity is powerful.鈥�
Erika Cerrillo, a TOP Dallas organizer said the organization has had more than 1,000 conversations with residents.
鈥淭hey have shared with us how important this is, how they have noticed the importance of an identification for them, and they're excited that there's someone who is fighting for this here in Dallas,鈥� Cerrillo said.
Editor鈥檚 note: This story has been modified after publication to clarify that enhanced library cards are not yet widely accepted in San Antonio as a valid form of ID. Only certain agencies like the San Antonio Police Department accept the enhanced library cards.
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