NYC municipal ID has provision to delete personal data

February 17, 2015 Associated Press

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio delivers his State of the City, which includes the city's Municipal ID, address at Baruch College

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New York City’s new municipal ID program is designed so that personal data can be deleted at the end of 2016.

The law’s co-sponsor tells the New York Post that’s to protect personal information in case a conservative Republican becomes president and demands the data.

The new president will assume office Jan. 20, 2017.

City Councilmember Carlos Menchaca says that date is an important signal to the future of immigration reform.

The Brooklyn Democrat says the Obama administration hasn’t shown interest in going after the data. But Menchaca says he didn’t want to take any chances on any new leadership.

The municipal ID is aimed at undocumented immigrants. Applicants must provide their name, address, aliases, date of birth and other personal information.

Immigrant advocates praised the provision.