Children of Immigrants Effectively Denied Citizenship in Texas

[KamaAina]

http://www.texasobserver.org/children-of-immigrants-denied-citizenship/

For nearly 150 years, the United States, under the 14th Amendment, has recognized people born here as citizens, regardless of whether their parents were citizens.

But Texas has other plans. In the last year, the state has refused to issue birth certificates to children who were born in Texas to undocumented parents. In May, four women filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Texas Department of State Health Services alleging constitutional discrimination and interference in the federal government’s authority over immigration.

Jennifer Harbury, a lawyer with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, who is representing the women, said the deluge of birth certificate refusals began last winter. “I’ve never seen such a large number of women with this problem,” she says. “In the past someone might be turned away, but it was always resolved. This is something altogether new.”...

But employees at the offices, which are run by the Texas Department of State Health Services, told the women they would no longer accept either the matricula consular, which is a photo ID issued by the Mexican Consulate to Mexican nationals living in the U.S., or a foreign passport without a current U.S. visa. Undocumented Central American women are also being turned away because they only have a passport without a U.S. visa. “They are locking out a huge chunk of the undocumented immigrant community,” says Harbury.

[Gothmog]

1. Texas is going lose another lawsuit

[missingthebigdog]

2. Just to clarify:

It is my understanding that they are not refusing to "issue" the birth certificates, but are refusing to provide said birth certificates to the parents.
The children are not deprived of citizenship. They are deprived of PROOF of citizenship. Texas is essentaly relying on identity theft laws to prevent undocumented persons from gaining any type of documentation. If you can't prove you exist on paper, you don't exist.
No doubt, Texas will end up on the losing end of this eventually. Meanwhile, children who are U.S. Citizens will continue to be deprived of benefits. It's infuriating. Texas never stops coming up with new forms of cruel.

[KamaAina]

3. Will they be able to vote when they grow up?

If this damnable situation lasts for 18 years, that is.

[missingthebigdog]

4. How?

If they never are able to obtain a document that proves who they are?

I think you replied to my posts while I was editing. I hit post too soon, and realized that my initial post seemed like I was okay with this. Sorry.

[Igel]

5. They'd be able to, I think.

They wouldn't be able to get primary forms of ID, most of which require a b.c. as their basis.

But there are secondary forms of ID that don't require it.

My understanding, though, is that typically parents get a copy of both the b.c. and of the SS card automatically. While that may not get them through everything, I know my parents held onto my original b.c. (I had to get a copy when I turned 16 or 17) and I still have my original SS card.

It's a pain, though. Easier with a b.c.

[missingthebigdog]

11. It may vary from state to state,

But here in Arkansas, parents are mailed the social security card, but have to apply to vital statistics for a copy of the birth certificate.

You are required to prove your identity when you apply, and only the child or the child's parent or legal guardian can get it.

[Igel]

6. That's what it sounds like.

If so, the headline is misleading and possibly meant just for outrage. Not that the article with the different understanding is all that great.

I'm not ruling out that it also includes children born not under a doctor's supervision, in which case the parents would have to register the birth and need documentation for that.

[KamaAina]

8. The actual headline read "Children Of Immigrants Denied Citizenship".

I threw in the "effectively" for that very reason.

[SoCalDem]

7. If the birth is registered legally, the parents should be able to request a copy online

It is a document in the public record and for a fee (that's the issue) they should be able to get a legal copy sent to them ..

[kelliekat44]

9. Does that include undocumented Europeans too? Lots of Greeks here with no papers, lots of

Vietnamese, lots of Russians. They came here with documents and many have expired, never renewed etc. Some live in my neighborhood. Even the issue of documentation is full of hypocrisy.

[Sunlei]

10. Texas discriminates against Hispanic persons. They will not even accept official Mexican picture ID

or an official passport.

Its a pain in the ass for regular citizens to deal with Texas desk clerk employees, they treat everyone like they're some terrorist or illegal person.

.