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Vol. 74/No. 9      March 8, 2010

 
Puerto Rican birth papers voided
 
BY CINDY JAQUITH  
The U.S. government is voiding all Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before December 2009. Any resident of the United States who was born in Puerto Rico before then will have to apply to the Puerto Rican Health Department to obtain a new certificate. The old documents expire July 1.

The U.S. State Department claims that 40 percent of all “identity theft” cases involve stolen birth certificates from Puerto Rico. These certificates are accepted in the United States as proof of U.S. citizenship and for many official transactions.

The new measure is the latest insult to Puerto Ricans by the government that has maintained their homeland as a colony ever since the late 19th century.

For the millions of Puerto Ricans who live in the United States but were born in Puerto Rico, the possibility of losing legal status is posed. One Puerto Rican in Bronx, New York, who was interviewed by NY1.com, said, “With what’s going on now… . It’s like I’m an illegal alien.”  
 
 
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