April 16, 2010
In This Issue
- PR Gov Must Allow Birth Certificates to Remain Valid
- SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 22, 2010
- Support LatinoJustice and the Mets and Yankees
PR Gov Must Allow Birth Certificates to Remain Valid
Several community groups and government officials have echoed LatinoJustice’s concerns that a new law invalidating Puerto Rico birth certificates on July 1 will harm Puerto Ricans and create confusion among mainland government officials.
In New York, State Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo wrote to Governor Patterson asking him to make sure all state and local agencies will continue to accept the documents up until July 1, and to prepare for any problems the new law could cause.
In New Jersey, State Senator Joseph F. Vitale and Assemblymen John S. Wisniewski and Craig J. Coughlin sent a letter to Governor Chris Christie asking him to help inform the public and prepare New Jersey departments and agencies for the law.
And in Connecticut, the state’s Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission has been reaching out to U.S. media outlets and disseminating information about the new law.
LatinoJustice PRLDEF has received several communications documenting unfair treatment because of this new law.
A resident of Iowa City wrote that she was told her Puerto Rico drivers’ license would not be accepted as a valid form of identification, and was forced to submit to an interview with a special investigator in order to get a new license.
Among the questions the woman was asked to answer as a way of “proving” that she really was from Puerto Rico, were:
- Who was the first governor of Puerto Rico (he didn’t specify elected or appointed)?
- What is the name of the airport from which Puerto Ricans travel?
- What is the meaning of the word “eñangotao?”
Then, the investigator pushed a button on his laptop, and out came the sound “co-quí, co-quí.” What animal makes that sound? he asked.
Though the law does not go into effect until July 1, LatinoJustice PRLDEF has learned that California, Ohio, and Nevada (in addition to Iowa) have already stated they would not accept any birth certificates from Puerto Rico as proof of birth for driver’s licenses.
In letters to Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño, LatinoJustice President and General Counsel Cesar Perales warned him that declaring Puerto Rican birth certificates invalid will fuel the escalating mandate to document the identity of Latinos for obtaining jobs, driver’s licenses, and government benefits and create very serious problems for many Puerto Ricans.
“The best way to address this problem is to not invalidate the certificates until the end of the year, until all state agencies have been properly informed, the necessary protections for all Puerto Ricans have been put in place, and Puerto Rico’s Demographic Registry Offices are adequately staffed and trained to handle all requests for birth certificates in a prompt and timely manner,” Perales said.
Under the law, every birth certificate issued in Puerto Rico will become invalid on July 1, 2010. But it is only after that date that those wanting proof that they were born on the island can apply to the commonwealth government for a new birth certificate.
Puerto Rico's legislature said they passed the law after raids last March broke up a criminal ring that had stolen thousands of birth certificates and other identifying documents from several different schools in Puerto Rico.
SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 22, 2010
When former LatinoJustice PRLDEF Board member Sonia Sotomayor ascended to the Supreme Court, she forged a new path for Latinas nationwide. In honor of this Wise Latina, we are proud to announce our 2010 Annual Women’s Award Breakfast.
The event will be held Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at the Yale Club of New York.
Contact Diana DeJesús-Medina, Director of Development, at 212-739-7585 for more information.
Support LatinoJustice and the Mets and Yankees
The following are opportunities to get low-cost Mets or Yankees tickets & donate easily to LatinoJustice PRLDEF. For information on attending one of the following games, contact william.j.vila@probonolaw.com
Mets Fundraisers
- Mets vs. Dodgers, Tues. April 27, 7:10 pm: Seats almost directly above home plate, in Section 520 of Promenade Reserve, are $20/ticket + $5 per ticket donation.
- Mets vs. Padres, Wed. June 9, 7:10 pm: Same location, price & donation as Dodgers.
- Mets vs. Reds, Mon. July 5, 7:10 pm, followed by pyrotechnics show. Promenade reserve seats, slightly past 1st base, Section 505, are $25/ticket + $5/ticket donation.
- Mets vs. Arizona, Sun. Aug. 1, 1:10 pm: Will also be inductions into the Mets Hall of Fame. Promenade reserve seats in Section 537 (above the outfield) are $23/ticket + $7/ticket donation.
Yanks Fundraisers: All seats are in the Grandstand, above deep left or right field.
For the first 5 games listed below, seats are $11 (half-price) + $9/ticket donation:
- Yankees vs. Baltimore, Tuesday, May 4 at 7:05 p.m.
- Yankees vs. Rays, Wednesday May 19, at 7:05 p.m.
- Yankees vs. Baltimore, Wednesday, June 2 at 7:05 p.m.
- Yankees vs. Angels, Tuesday, July 20 at 7:05 p.m.
- Yankees vs. Baltimore, Thursday, June 3 at 1:05pm
For the 3 games listed below, seats are $22 + $38/ticket donation
- Yankees vs. Red Sox, Monday, May 17 at 7:05pm
- Subway Series vs. Mets, Friday, June 18, at 7:05 p.m.
- Yankees vs. Red Sox, Friday, August 6 at 7:05 p.m.