My state is considering
state citizenship. The gist:
noncitizens who have proof of identity and have lived and paid taxes in the state for three years could apply for legal status. It would qualify them for Medicaid coverage, professional licensing, tuition assistance, and driver’s licenses, as well as grant state and local—but not federal—voting rights. The responsibilities of citizenship would also apply, including jury duty.
And New York City is looking at a
municipal id.
I am happy that the NYC one is finally be presented as what it is - a card for illegal/undocumented immigrants. At the beginning, people tried to disguise it as "helping young adults and senior citizens who don't drive." Which is baloney. I got a nice document from the Dept of Motor Vehicles when I turned 18. It's called a non-drivers id. You can go with your parents and hardly show any id at all to get one. (In recognition that a 18 year old doesn't necessarily have everything someone older does.)
For the NYS one, I'm glad they are adding jury duty. It bothered me that they were offering the right to vote without the obligation of jury duty. Although in practice, it won't expand the jury pool much. Too many CITIZENS pretend not to speak English to get out of jury duty. Someone who has only been here three years legitimately might not speak English.
That said, I'm not clear on how this helps. Getting an id that says you are here illegally seems foolish. It supplies the federal government with a nice list of who to deport if they were so moved. I also don't see why one should be able to vote without being a citizen.