Commissioners Propose Cook County Identification Card

Commissioners Propose Cook County Identification Card

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Two commissioners have proposed creating an identification card for anyone living in Cook County, including those in the U.S. illegally.

Commissioners Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and John Fritchey announced their proposal Wednesday. It comes after the Chicago City Council voted in April to create a similar ID for the city. The Chicago Tribune reports Garcia and Fritchey say a county-wide ID makes more sense because millions of people live in Cook County but outside Chicago.

The proposed county identification card would give residents in the U.S. illegally who don’t have state IDs the ability to provide their identities to government agencies.

A spokeswoman for Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia asked the commissioners to join in the city effort instead of creating another card. Fritchey said the county should lead the effort.