Schools, libraries work to help [illegal alien] undocumented students

Before students at the Smith Renaissance School are sent home for the summer, they are sent to the neighborhood public library.

"A lot of these kids they don't even have books in their homes," Elizabeth Rittiman, communications specialist at Smith, said. "So, we got to talking and we thought, you know, maybe what we should do is walk the kids over to the library."

But, there is more to just showing these elementary school students where the library is. At schools like Smith, many families thought they didn't have access to the public library system because they are undocumented [illegal aliens]. But, now, the Denver Public Library system will accept identification cards issued by foreign consulates in order for them to obtain a library card.

"This is a really big deal," Rittiman said. "Fifty seven percent of our families are Hispanic and a lot of them do come straight from Mexico or other Latin American countries" ...

Mary Trujillo is a library program assistant for Denver Public Libraries ...

She says the acceptance of consulate IDs erases a major barrier for [illegal alien] undocumented families ...

Trujillo says families are surprised at what they have access to for free.

"I think it's a really big surprise when people realize you can take a hundred items home," Trujillo said ...

CAIRCO Research

As of 2003, the Mexican matricula consular ID card was made illegal in Colorado! 

When the Mexican government began issuing huge numbers of the non-secure Mexican matricula consular ID card in Colorado, the immediate reaction of the Colorado legislature was to pass HB-1224, the Colorado Secure and Verifiable Identity Document Act. You can read the entire bill on the Colorado Legislature website: Colorado Secure and Verifiable Identity Document Act (HB03-1224).

In 2003, CAIRCO presented the debate: The Mexican matricula consular ID card: safe or sorry? Panelists included syndicated columnist and author Michelle Malkin.

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Denver Public Schools

If you would like more information on Smith Renaissance School ... please contact our Communications Specialist Elizabeth Rittiman at 720-424-4017 or email her at elizabeth_rittiman@dpsk12.org.

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HB-1224 - the Colorado Secure and Verifiable Identity DOCUMENT ACT

HOUSE BILL 03-1224
CONCERNING A PROHIBITION AGAINST THE ACCEPTANCE BY PUBLIC ENTITIES OF IDENTITY DOCUMENTS THAT ARE NOT SECURE.

SECTION 1. Title 24, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY
THE ADDITION OF A NEW ARTICLE to read:
ARTICLE 72.1
Secure and Verifiable Identity Documents
24-72.1-101. Short title.

THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS THE "SECURE AND VERIFIABLE IDENTITY DOCUMENT ACT".

24-72.1-102. Definitions. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES:
(1) "CHILDREN" MEANS CHILDREN AS DEFINED BY 42 U.S.C. SEC.
1786 (b).
(2) "INFANTS" MEANS INFANTS AS DEFINED BY 42 U.S.C. SEC. 1786 (b).
(3) "PUBLIC ENTITY" MEANS AN AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, BOARD,
DIVISION, BUREAU, COMMISSION, COUNCIL, OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE.
(4) "PUBLIC OFFICIAL" MEANS AN ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIAL, AN EMPLOYEE, OR AN AGENT OF A PUBLIC ENTITY.
(5) "SECURE AND VERIFIABLE DOCUMENT" MEANS A DOCUMENT ISSUED BY A STATE OR FEDERAL JURISDICTION OR RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND THAT IS VERIFIABLE BY FEDERAL OR STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT, INTELLIGENCE, OR HOMELAND SECURITY AGENCIES.

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24-72.1-103. Identity documents - verifiable. (1) A PUBLIC ENTITY THAT PROVIDES SERVICES SHALL NOT ACCEPT, RELY UPON, OR UTILIZE AN IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES UNLESS IT IS A SECURE AND VERIFIABLE DOCUMENT.
(2) A PUBLIC ENTITY THAT IS ISSUING AN IDENTIFICATION CARD, LICENSE, PERMIT, OR OFFICIAL DOCUMENT SHALL NOT AUTHORIZE  ACCEPTANCE OF AN IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT, NOR SHALL A PUBLIC OFFICIAL ACTING IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY ACCEPT AN IDENTIFICATION   DOCUMENT BEFORE ISSUING SUCH DOCUMENTS, UNLESS SUCH IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT IS A SECURE AND VERIFIABLE DOCUMENT.

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The following types of identification are Secure and Verifiable:

• Any Colorado Driver License, Colorado Driver Permit or Colorado Identification Card,
current or expired one year or less. (Valid temporary paper license with invalid Colorado
Driver’s License, Colorado Driver’s Permit, or Colorado Identification Card, expired one
year or less is acceptable.)
• Out-of-state issued photo driver’s license or photo identification card, photo driver’s  
permit current or expired one year or less.
• U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card, current or expired less than 10 years.
• Valid foreign passport with I-94 or valid processed for I551 stamps. Exception: Canadian
Passport may not have I-94 attached.
• Valid I-94 issued by U.S. Immigration with L1 or R1 status and a valid Canadian drivers
license or valid Canadian identification card.
• Valid I551 Resident Alien/Permanent Resident card. No border crosser or USA B1/B2
Visa/BCC cards.
• Valid I688 Temporary Resident, I688B, and I766 Employment Authorization Card with
intact photo.
• Valid US Military ID (active duty, dependent, retired, reserve and National Guard).
• Tribal Identification Card with intact photo. (U.S. or Canadian)
• Certificate of Naturalization with intact photo.
• Certificate of (US) Citizenship with intact photo.