Advocates for immigrants say a proposed New York City municipal ID card will help ensure that all New Yorkers can obtain crucial city services.

Backers of the proposed ID card said Wednesday that non-drivers, transgender people and others also will benefit from the city-issued ID card.

Wednesday’s hearing before the immigration committee of the City Council was the first step in the city’s drive to introduce the card.

Mayor Bill de Blasio is a strong supporter.

Other supporters of the city ID card say immigrant New Yorkers without government-issued ID cards often have difficulty picking their children up at school or using health services.

Backers say the card will help transgender people because it will let them use the gender they prefer, even if they have not had reassignment surgery.

(AP)