@article{DitlmannLagunesLevin, author = {Ditlmann, Ruth K. and Lagunes, Paul and Levin, Brian M.}, title = {Documenting the Undocumented: A Review of the United States' First Municipal ID Program}, series = {Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy}, volume = {24}, journal = {Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy}, doi = {10.7916/D8TX3MQS}, pages = {43 -- 62}, abstract = {The City of New Haven, CT, sought to promote the assimilation of its immigrants by becoming the first American city to provide a government-backed ID, the Elm City Resident Card, to all residents. This article tests the policy's effectiveness in commerce. We find that Hispanics/Latinos are asked to present an ID more than Whites/Anglos, showing that the former are in greater need of documentation, regardless of their citizenship status. When a Hispanic/Latino presented the Elm City Resident Card to a cashier, it fared only as well as an unofficial ID. Thus, we conclude that the card has negligible utility as a form of documentation.}, language = {en} }