But I’m a citizen!

I’ve still got a few days of travelogue to go, but there are some news items that needs to be shared. Here’s one of them.

Melissa McEwan of Shakesville is getting real tired of being a Cassandra – a person who tells the truth but who is ignored. During the horrific news about children being ripped from parents at the southern border, she commented that while the action at that time was against immigrants (and people asking for asylum are not acting illegally!) the nasty guy and his minions would soon target those who have been here legally for a while and then also target US citizens.

On to the story of Juan, born in Brownsville, Texas. He applied to renew his US passport, and was denied. Note that he previously did have a passport. The reason for the denial – the State Department didn’t believe he was a citizen. Juan has a birth certificate. The gov’t says there is “significant incidence” of citizenship fraud (and the gov’t gets to define “signficant”).

Juan was told to bring supporting documentation – evidence his mother got prenatal care, his baptism certificate, rental agreements from the time he was born. Sure. Everybody has a copy of their parents’ rental agreement from 40 years ago. Also note that bit about baptism certificate – only Christians need apply.

So Juan was able to gather some of those records, but was denied again. The gov’t is the one who gets to decide that the birth certificate is fraudulent and also gets to decide whether supporting documentation is sufficient. So if you’ve been targeted there is no way to win this game.

McEwan and her various commenters remind us that it may be Latinx people along the Texas border now, but they’re only the first step. Then it might be on to all immigrants, the queer, trans, disabled, of a religious minority, visible dissidents, or any other marginalized class. The goal posts can be moved as far as needed.