Rollout of Phoenix municipal ID cards delayed

Municipal ID cards were supposed to be made available to Phoenix residents by now, but there’s been a delay.

Supporters of the ID cards say the rollout was delayed because there are concerns over whether or not the city will retain the personal information of card holders.

Viridiana Hernandez, executive director of the Center for Neighborhood Leadership, said she and other supporters are worried authorities could access the information and use it against card holders, especially those who are undocumented.

“Someone’s name or someone’s address – all of that information we feel will be very sensitive and could be used if there aren’t any protections,” Hernandez said.

She added that the concerns are even more pressing now that President Donald Trump is in office and could direct federal authorities to access the data. Similar concerns are brewing in California, where thousands of undocumented immigrants have applied for driver’s licenses and, in doing so, have shared their personal information.

But David Urbinato, a spokesman for the Phoenix City Council, said the delay was not due to concerns over personal information being retained. He said the delay was “solely” to account for any possible changes to municipal ID cards or services made in the state Legislature.

“There have been several bills considered in the current legislative session that would impact how, or even if, municipalities can offer cards,” he said, adding that the delay “ensured that any Phoenix city services card program would comply with any changes mandated in state legislation.”

“The date change is solely driven by that,” he said.

Now, the Phoenix municipal ID cards are projected to be made available in late spring or early summer.

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