Providence has unveiled a new form of ID – the municipal “IDPVD.” The ID won’t let you drive or get on a plane, but it will be accepted by police, city agencies and libraries.
The cards will function as city-issued proof of identity, which can be used for opening bank accounts, attending court dates and accessing city services. Unlike a driver’s license, the ID’s won’t require proof of citizenship. Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza said that’s a concern for residents living in the city without documentation.
“They’re afraid to show up for court appointments, they’re afraid to call the police department. In none of those ways are they better off or are we better off. That’s where the genesis of this program comes from,” Elorza said, during a press conference Tuesday unveiling the new ID.
With applications now available for the municipal cards, Elorza described it as a message that all people are welcome members of the Providence community. He used the example of a father who wanted to pick up his daughter from a local elementary school after she fell ill but was unable to do so becaues he lacked a government-issued ID.
“So it was very difficult for him to check his daughter out. And so, these ID they were started to help the undocumented immigrant community with these daily transactions,” Elorza added.
The photo ID cards will be available to all Providence residents age 14 and up. Residents do not need to show their immigration status to get the ID, but they do need to show some kind of identifying document, such as a foreign passport or student ID. Also, they need to show proof of residency, such as a utility bill.
City officials said they hope the ID will also be popular with the LGBTQ community because it doesn’t have to state the holder’s gender.