Mayor opposes ID cards for illegal immigrants

By Steve Lannen

slannen@herald-leader.com

Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry said Tuesday afternoon he opposes the idea of issuing local identification cards to undocumented immigrants in Fayette County.

The mayor also announced the formation of task force to look at code enforcement issues in the city.

Newberry made the comments as he met with members of an immigration commission, which delivered its report to Newberry today at LFUCG’s Phoenix Building. Newberry said he had only a brief time to review the report before the meeting, but he gave his initial reactions. He also thanked the commission members for their work.

The report makes eight recommendations to the mayor. Among the recommendations are stricter code enforcement, local identification cards for undocumented immigrants, and consideration of an international-affairs office. Another recommendation was that the mayor and others lobby state government to change state law in order to grant state driver’s licenses to immigrants who are unauthorized to enter or remain in the United States.

Newberry also said he opposes the license suggestion, but is intrigued with international affairs office recommendation.

Newberry commissioned the nine-member panel to explore the immigration issue and come up with recommendations for government at the local level.

The report contains dissenting opinions or personal statements from some of the commission members.

Read more on this story in Wednesday’s Herald-Leader.