New Barrier for Immigrants: Texas Birth Certificate
McALLEN, Tex. — At the Republican debate Wednesday and throughout the campaign, candidates led by Donald J. Trump have assailed illegal immigration, and some have questioned whether children who are born to immigrants in this country illegally should be considered American citizens.
But here on the Texas border some communities are engaged in activities that go beyond talk, enforcing some of the toughest rules in the country limiting the types of ID parents can show to receive copies of birth certificates. The result has been a refusal to issue birth certificates to many of the Texas-born children of immigrants here illegally.
The state says it is a matter of adequate verification. Organizations that advocate on immigrants’ behalf see anti-immigrant sentiments turned into anti-immigrant policies — with the goal of making it harder for illegal immigrants to live and raise families in Texas. The requirements have spurred a lawsuit against the state and opposition from Hispanic lawmakers, immigrant rights activists and even officials from Mexico.
Without a birth certificate, illegal immigrants say they cannot have newborns baptized, have had difficulty enrolling their children in day care and school and have lost or fear losing Medicaid coverage and other government services and benefits for their families. They said officials required birth certificates for these programs, as proof of parenthood or the child’s Texas birth.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-barrier-for-immigrants-texas-birth-certificate/ar-AAeq5pg?li=AAa0dzB&ocid=mailsignout
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