ID's: Exclusion by Design

Identification cards allow those who have them to gain access to resources and fully participate in our society. Unfortunately, 11% of all American citizens lack an ID - that's over 12 million citizens across the country. Those without ID's are disproportionately from marginalized communities: 18% are elderly, 25% are African Americans, 20% are Hispanic/LatinX, and in general, 18% are individuals making less than $35,000 a year. In 2008, the State of Michigan implemented restrictive policies governing eligibility to gain access to a state ID card and driver's license, explicitly excluding the undocumented community from the identification system, and reducing the list of available documents individuals can use to prove state residency. This disproportionately negatively impacts a variety of marginalized communities. Restrictions were also adopted to prevent those without a government-issued ID from accessing an array of basic resources and services, including housing assistance, employment assistance, food pantries, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, prescription medication, participating as a parent in a child’s school, among other restrictions. In doing so, it has converted necessities into privileges. Join us for a special virtual discussion examining this issue and advocacy happening around it, featuring panelists: Keta Cowan, Attorney, Ann Arbor Human Rights Commissioner (HRC), and Chair of the Washtenaw County ID Task Force; Phimmasone Owens, advocate and member of Strangers No Longer; and Maria Ibarra-Frayre, Deputy Director of We the People Michigan, and partner of the Drive Michigan Forward Coalition.

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