The Detroit Health Department is revving up its efforts to provide identification to all city residents with the Detroit ID Card operation back in action. This inclusive initiative opens its doors once again after addressing security concerns that previously halted the program. The card is designed to offer a reliable form of identification for all residents of Detroit, including undocumented immigrants, minors, and those without a permanent address.
The service, which had been suspended in 2022, due to potential security vulnerabilities with the vendor software has now resumed with no incidents of a breach having occurred. Qualifying residents can secure a photo ID for $10, with exceptions made for children 11 years and under, who are eligible to receive the ID at no charge, and waivers available for those experiencing homelessness. According to a Detroitmi.gov news release, a legal guardian must be present for applicants under the age of 18 during their appointment.
Denise Fair Razo, the city's Chief Public Health Officer, emphasized the significance of the ID in enabling residents to partake in essential city services and activities. "We want everyone in the City of Detroit to have a Municipal ID card, ensuring they can fully engage in daily activities and access essential services that many of us might take for granted. These IDs empower residents to access city services and participate in our local economy," she mentioned in a statement obtained by Detroitmi.gov.
Detroit City Council Member, Gabriela Santiago-Romero illustrated the deep impact of the program on the community. “As chair of the Public Health and Safety Standing Committee and the Immigration Task Force, I am thrilled for the long-awaited relaunch of the Detroit ID program. Ensuring all Detroiters – regardless of immigration status, gender identity, housing status, or convictions – have access to photo identification is a matter of dignity and wellbeing. These documents ultimately enable residents to gain access to healthcare services, as well as city services and buildings, including schools and libraries, participate in the local economy, and interface with utility companies and law enforcement," Santiago-Romero told Detroitmi.gov.
Residents aiming to obtain a Detroit ID card can submit the necessary documentation, worth 300 points, along with proof of Detroit residency. No appointments are required for processing at two walk-in locations: the Detroit Health Department and the Patton Recreation Center, with specific operating hours available on the Detroit Health Department's website. The ID cards will start being issued during the Health Department’s Annual Block Party, alongside a host of community health resources and family-friendly activities.
The festivity set for this Saturday, not only marks the re-introduction of the Detroit ID card but also aligns with a Walk ‘n Rally by SisterFriends Detroit to promote Infant Safe Sleep practices. Complete with health screenings, vaccines, and entertainment, the Block Party promises a celebration of communal health and well-being, Fair Razo explained in a statement obtained by Detroitmi.gov, “We are inviting everyone to have some fun and join us for the biggest, healthiest Block Party in Detroit.”
