Dominican lawmaker Maribel Almánzar withdraws ID bill and answers critics in Congress

Maribel Almánzar, a deputy from the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), announced on Wednesday in the Chamber of Deputies the withdrawal of a bill that would have issued an identification document to people whose nationality could not be determined.

"I regret that in my country there are so many people giving opinions without informing themselves, without reading. Even some of my fellow deputies forgot that among firefighters you don't step on the hose," Almánzar said, calling the criticism she received from Congress itself inconsiderate.

The lawmaker rejected accusations that she sought to promote the unification of the Dominican Republic and Haiti or to make it easier to issue Dominican ID cards to foreigners in irregular immigration status. She explained that the proposal sought to resolve the cases of people who already hold an ID card but cannot renew it because their nationality is questioned.

Under the bill, each case would have been investigated individually: if the person turned out to be Dominican, they would receive a national ID card; if foreign, they would be treated according to their status; and if nationality could not be established, they would be issued a special document marked "nationality undetermined," with no right to vote.

Almánzar explained that the withdrawal also responds to a resolution from the Central Electoral Board (JCE) that addresses part of the problem for citizens over 60 who struggle to renew their documents. She thanked those who supported the initiative and reiterated that she will keep working for people who still cannot renew their ID cards.

Photo: El Diario del Sur

Source: El Diario del Sur