A Filipino-American pro-immigrant group called Damayan expressed concern over the community ID programs that several cities in the state of New Jersey have been issuing for their legal and even illegal residents. The programs that are in effect in Trenton, Asbury Park, and soon in Princeton [effective May 22], allow residents to apply for community ID cards for whatever purpose they need it for.

Although Hispanic community leaders expressed optimism in such programs, Damayan fears it could generate the same bad effects as New York Senator Schumer (D) proposed in his comprehensive immigration bill.

"We don't really know what is their real agenda about issuing community ID to undocumented immigrants. We hope that the ID will not lead to something similar to the biometric ID that Senator Schumer and other lawmakers have proposed. As far as we know, as long as it is just a small patch to cover a very big hole, such as comprehensive immigration reform, the problem will always be there and will refuse to go away," said Cita Brodsky, an organizer for Damayan.

The identification cards have been issued in Trenton for over a year now.

In an interview with the New York Times, Maria Juega, treasurer of the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said that both Trenton and Princeton are trying to fill the void created by Congress's failure to fix a flawed immigration system. Juega told The New York Times that her fellow advocates in Trenton were motivated by a desire to "allow this population that is increasingly marginalized to have some semblance of a normal life."

The identification cards help illegal immigrants to obtain health services, get library cards, open bank accounts and get help from non-profit organizations and church groups.

Other U.S. cities like New Haven, San Francisco and Oakland have similar ID programs. Other states like New Mexico and Washington even allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.

Given the heat that the State of Arizona is getting from their controversial anti-illegal immigration law, it is widely believed that Congress will soon tackle immigration reform.

However, Damayan expressed their opposition on some provisions of the proposed immigration bill to legalize undocumented immigrants based on Senator Charles Schumer's proposal in the Senate.

They said they opposed any bill, or any similar bill, that would hurt and divide the community, based on the "four pillars" outlined in Schumer's "blueprint," because it will require all to carry a biometric ID card, a system that Damayan believes could be used to discriminate people based on their status. It will also be a privacy issue since the biometric card will carry all sensitive personal information that could be used against holders of the card. The system will also give the authorities the right to detain and deport anyone on the basis of having said card.

The bill also wants to create more temporary guest workers – a proposal that Damayan thinks would encourage labor abuse since guest workers are excluded from any labor laws, therefore lack protection afforded to other workers. Moreover, if the current form of the bill holds, it will increase deportation, detentions and harsh border enforcement measures, which will create a very unstable environment for children of undocumented immigrants because it will separate families.

As part of Immigrant Communities in Action, Damayan has been working since 2005 to build the power of low-wage, immigrant people and organize for comprehensive, humane immigration reform.

"Our demands were developed through long-term community consultation and consensus across diverse immigrant community organizations in New York City, prioritizing the voices of our community directly affected by detention and deportation," Brodsky said.

Meanwhile, in Washington, President Obama reiterated his opposition to the Arizona law empowering policemen to arrest illegal immigrants.

Confronting soaring frustration over illegal immigration, President Obama on Wednesday condemned Arizona's crackdown and pushed instead for a federal fix the nation could embrace. He said that will never happen without Republican support, pleading: "I need some help," according to the Associated Press.

"In the United States of America, no law-abiding person – be they an American citizen, a legal immigrant, or a visitor or tourist from Mexico – should ever be subject to suspicion simply because of what they look like," Obama said at the White House.