Online Exclusive: Sheriff Mark Luttrell on the Latino Memphis Forum and a County-Issued ID Card

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On County-Issued Immigrant ID Cards
By: Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell

The Commercial Appeal in their June 29, 2010, edition incorrectly quoted an answer I gave at the Latino Memphis Forum on June, 28, 2010. In their article, the Commercial Appeal stated that I supported issuing county ID cards to illegal immigrants. However, the question asked by the moderator made no mention of the word illegal.

The question asked by the moderator was, “Several jurisdictions have endorsed a local identification card in an attempt to help immigrants cash checks, access local social and medical services, and aid law enforcement in the tracking of criminals. What is your opinion of a Shelby County identification card for immigrants?”

In response to the wording of this question, I said that I think an ID card process is important. I think it’s good. I do think we need to be legally sound in what we’re doing. Again, the words “illegal immigrants” were never mentioned in the question.

Since this confusion occurred, the editor of the Commercial Appeal, Chris Peck, was quoted on June 29, 2010, as saying “Readers of our mayor’s forum story may have been confused by our characterization of the discussion over ID cards for immigrants. It’s clear that Mark Luttrell did not intend to suggest that illegal immigrants should be issued ID cards. We regret any misunderstanding of the sheriff’s position that the story may have caused.”

I believe that while a “community identification card” might help us more easily identify victims of crimes, these cards could not be considered a legal document. The only official forms of identification should come through citizenship, establishing a permanent residence here and/or obtaining a driver’s license.

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