[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Trump administration is denying passports to Hispanic citizens born along the U.S.-Mexico border, accusing them of using fake birth certificates.\u00a0 In some cases, United States citizens have had their valid passports revoked, been confined to immigration detention, and\/or face deportation.\u00a0 There have been several anecdotal reports of military personnel and border patrol agents having their passports revoked because the government does not believe that they are citizens.<\/p>\n
The State Department has announced that people affected by this policy are people who have birth certificates filed by a midwife or birth attendant who was suspected to have sold Texas birth certificates to the parents of children who were born in Mexico.\u00a0 This fraud was a real concern, with several dozen successful fraud prosecutions against these midwives.\u00a0 However, these midwives also delivered thousands of babies in the United States.\u00a0 Proving that the birth documentation is fraudulent has been difficult, leading many legitimate citizens to be swept up in this increased enforcement action.<\/p>\n
According to the State Department, those facing additional scrutiny are people whose birth certificate was filed by a midwife or birth attendant suspected of fraudulent activity or people who have both a U.S. and foreign birth certificate.\u00a0 According to reports, the government is asking for obscure documents such as rental agreements or prenatal care records from as early as the 1960s.\u00a0 And even if they do receive some of these documents, the government is still denying some passport requests.<\/p>\n
See the full news report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n