South Bend and La Casa de Amistad makes city identification cards

South Bend is making it possible for residents to get city identification.

The cards will be available in January.

“This is about making sure that anybody who lives here is able to show who they are, and I think that makes us a safe city and a more inclusive place,” Mayor Pete Buttigieg said.

The program is open for all, but will provide easy identification for vulnerable groups like undocumented immigrants.

“They’re not able to do basic things like call the police. The first thing a police officer asks you is ‘do you have identification?’” Sam Centellas, executive director of La Casa de Amistad said.

The program is recognized by city government, but it will be operated out of La Casa.

Centellas has been working on it for over a year.

“January third we will be launching the card program to the public. So today we kind of had a preview day,” Centellas said.

The identification cards cost $25, and appointments must be made with La Casa to obtain one.