Dickson C. Igwe. Photo: VINO/File

Why the fear of a resource that will help manage both migration and the Virgin Islands population safely and securely?

An ID card will offer structure in the migration and citizenship process. It manages the migrant that breaks the law or overstay, as it will define the boundaries of the migrant’s stay in the Virgin Islands. It will remind the migrant that there are rules in place. That those rules are best followed. When rules are broken, there are penalties. The ID card is both a monitoring device and a law enforcement tool.

A national ID will help identify who is who in the event of a disaster, such as a car crash or a health emergency. It will offer data on blood type, allergies, residence status, criminal records, social security and national health insurance, employment, next of kin, and more, on the resident.

The migrant with evil intent will be unable to hide if he or she is in the Virgin Islands illegally. It will be illegal for a migrant not to have their ID in their possession. Better still, a card with a chip to monitor the migrant’s movements in the territory.

Migration may be a great thing to support businesses and services that natives cannot or will not do. However, when migration gets out of hand with no population controls and social and cultural assessment of migration policy, misery lies ahead.