Goshen considering an ID card program for undocumented immigrants

That wish is now on Goshen Mayor Jeremy Stutsman's agenda and could go before the Goshen City Council this year.

Stutsman spoke briefly at a town hall meeting Monday morning about possibly issuing city ID cards similar to those available in South Bend. He said Tuesday that the idea is in its very early stages and that he hasn't yet discussed it with city council, so it's too early to say what the program might look like or who would issue the cards.

The mayor's Latino Advisory Committee has been talking about the possibility for about six months, said Richard Aguirre, Goshen College's director of corporate and foundation relations. He said Goshen could follow the same model as South Bend, where a non-profit organization, such as La Casa de Amistad Inc., would issue the IDs rather than the city itself.

In South Bend, the cards are meant for residents who have difficulty obtaining other forms of photo ID. They are available to anyone who can provide proof of identification and proof they live in South Bend, according to information from La Casa. To issue them, the organization partnered with a company that manages municipal IDs for several cities around the country.