Iowa City community members expressed concern surrounding a bill proposed in the state legislature that would ban community IDs at an Iowa City City Council meeting Tuesday, calling for appropriate action from the councilors and state legislators.
According to the Johnson County website, the community ID program grants residents an additional form of photo identification that is issued by and used only for local government. It is not recognized federally, meaning it cannot be used for voting or obtaining a license, but can be used as an additional way to verify identity when engaging with schools, law enforcement, participating banks, and city and county agencies.
“The ID was established to ensure that all members of our diverse community are welcomed and can participate fully in the economic and social life of our county,” the website states.
The proposed bill, House Study Bill 552, was advanced out of committee Tuesday and would ban the use of community IDs in the state.
During public comment, many community members came to express their anxieties for the future of the program, sharing support and advocating for action to maintain the program.
André Tandu, a resident of Iowa City, said the program is important for many immigrants in the Johnson County community.
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“Many people in the Congolese community have lived through war, violence, and persecution,” he said. “Because of that, fear stays with us for a long time, even when we are safe. Without identification, people are afraid to speak to police, afraid to report crime, and afraid to come forward as a witness. They worry that asking people could bring trouble instead of protection. The community ID helps reduce that fear.”
Amy Hernandez, a resident of North Liberty, spoke on behalf of the Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County, an organization led by Councilor Mazahir Salih that focuses on stability and opportunities for newly immigrated families.
Hernandez said community IDs impact residents’ sense of public safety. She said the security of having an ID is felt not only by immigrants, but also for nondriving seniors, those with documents lost to fires and other emergencies, people experiencing homelessness, and youth without access to state IDs, all of whom benefit from an added form of identification.
Hernandez called on city council members to communicate with lobbyists and state legislators about their concerns on the bill and asked the Iowa City Police Department to speak out about how community IDs support corporations, reporting, and community safety.
Councilor Oliver Weilein said he had a community ID for years.
“It is for anybody in many different situations,” Weilein said. “Even if you don’t need one, get one and normalize it.”
Salih said she was in the state capital when the decision to advance the bill out of subcommittee was made.
“As you see, a lot of people came today and talked about it and how this is important,” Salih said. “So I encourage you to reach out to those 22 members of the committee and encourage them to keep something that really was unique to Johnson County and created by elected officials who know their county well and the needs.”