The Burlington Police Department is hosting a Spanish-language “Community-based Strategic Planning” session. So, if you no habla espanol, you will be out of luck trying to understand what’s happening at that city sponsored meeting.

It also turns out that the BPD, a local church, and a Greensboro-based activist group are taking things a step further:

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and other religious organizations are in conversation with Alamance County law enforcement about possibly providing identification cards for undocumented immigrants. The cards would grant no legal status or protection, but could help officers identify people in situations such as traffic stops or in domestic calls, said Burlington Police Chief Jeffrey Smythe, who supports the idea. The cards would list a person’s name and address, have a photo, and would be renewed annually through the church or issuing organization, Smythe said. A similar card is already available through Faith Action International House in Greensboro. The cards — along with such items as utility bills, insurance cards or other information — could help police ID people given a “totality of the circumstances,” Smythe said. “It’s the same as if you are stopped and you left your driver’s license at home, but you have a credit card and library card with your name on it, and your gym membership with your picture on it. I’m going to feel pretty good about you being who you say you are,” Smythe said. Being able to roughly identify someone could make the difference between them getting a traffic citation and being booked in the Alamance County jail, Smythe said. Jail bookings take officers off patrol for hours and use other taxpayer resources, Smythe said. Writing a ticket takes 10 minutes. The Rev. Paul Lininger, pastor at Blessed Sacrament, didn’t respond to a request for comment Friday. Smythe said other law enforcement agencies also have been in discussion with the groups proposing the IDs, which include Fairness Alamance, Centro De La Communidad, Latinos United Prosperous Esperanza, and several religious groups, along with the Catholic Church. Most chiefs agree with the idea, Smythe said. They’d rather have some idea who a person is than no idea at all.

The Alamance County sheriff likes the concept of alternative IDs, but has some reservations — for instance, about the ability of the church and the other activist groups being able to do background checks.

James Johnson, president of NCFIRE, an activist group opposed to amnesty for illegal aliens, has fired off a letter of concern to state legislators representing Alamance County: