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Shelby County sheriff says his view on immigrant ID cards was misrepresented
Luttrell doesn't back ID proposal
By Daniel Connolly
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Posted June 29, 2010 at 5:04 p.m., updated June 29, 2010 at 10:53 p.m.
Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell says that he doesn't support a plan to have the county issue identification cards for illegal immigrants, and says that a question he was asked about the idea during a debate this week didn't specify that illegal immigrants were the subject.
"I did not hear anything stated in that question about issuing ID cards to illegals," said Luttrell, who is the Republican candidate for county mayor.
Luttrell said The Commercial Appeal made a mistake by reporting Tuesday that he supported issuing ID cards to illegal immigrants during a public debate. He said he has faced a backlash from supporters as a result.
Search our databases. In an e-mailed statement, Luttrell wrote, "While a 'community identification card' might help us more easily identity victims of crime, 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," Luttrell wrote.
"Readers of our mayor's forum story may have been confused by our characterization of the discussion over ID cards for immigrants," said Chris Peck, editor of The Commercial Appeal. "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."
A representative of Republican sheriff's candidate Bill Oldham, who also appeared to endorse the concept, said Oldham also didn't understand the issue had to do with illegal immigrants.
Here is how moderator Wayne Pitts, a University of Memphis criminology professor, phrased the question to Luttrell at the debate organized by Hispanic advocacy group Latino Memphis:
"Several jurisdictions around the country have adopted a local ID card in an attempt to help immigrants cash checks, access local social and medical services, and aid law enforcement in tracking criminals. What is your opinion of a Shelby County ID card for immigrants?"
Luttrell responded: "I think an ID card process is important. I think it's good."
In an interview, Pitts said that he was talking about illegal immigrants and that those here legally wouldn't need such a card because they could get state-issued identification.
Illegal immigrants could obtain local identification by showing passports from their home countries as well as a document showing that they have a local residence: for instance, a utility bill or rental contract, Pitts said. The document would be for identification only in this area, he said.
Jurisdictions including San Francisco, Trenton, N.J., and Princeton, N.J., have approved such plans.
Shelby County Interim Mayor Joe Ford, the Democratic candidate in the mayor's race, said after the debate that his administration is exploring the idea of issuing ID cards to illegal immigrants.
Mayor's spokeswoman Rhonda Turner said Tuesday that the administration's community services task force is reviewing the idea and has sent questions to the county attorney's office.
"We're exploring all the legalities of it," she said.
In the Monday night debate, sheriff's candidate Oldham also appeared to endorse the ID card concept. "If it's done the right way, I can certainly support that," he said.
Oldham's campaign manager, Robert Callahan, said Tuesday that the candidate didn't understand the issue was about illegal immigrants.
"When the question was posed to us, the only thing that was said to us was 'immigrants'," Callahan said.
The Democratic candidate for sheriff, Randy Wade, said during the debate that he would support the issuance of the cards "only if it's done the right way."
Wade said Tuesday that he knew the question was about illegal immigrants.
He said that the county should set up some guidelines for issuing the identification.
"You don't just give a blanket ID card," he said. "There have to be some guidelines and stipulations as to how you're going to do that."
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| Article Date: 6/29/2010 |
| Source: www.commercialappeal.com |
