leaving her with “nothing to prove my identity” — or her U.S. citizenship

[barryqwalsh]

Alecia Faith Pennington describes herself as a Texan, born and raised. But in a video that went viral after she posted it on YouTube last month, Pennington said her parents never obtained a birth certificate or other basic documentation of her life, leaving her with “nothing to prove my identity” — or her U.S. citizenship. Because she was home-schooled, she also has no school records. That means, the 19-year-old said, that she’s unable to get a job, go to college or obtain a driver’s licence.

To make things worse, Pennington said in the February video, her parents have refused to sign an affidavit that would help her prove her place of birth, leaving her with few legal options. On Tuesday, a Texas legislator introduced a bill to try to change that.


How a teenager s viral campaign to prove her citizenship is inspiring a new Texas bill - The Washington Post

 

[Sonny Clark]

Alecia Faith Pennington describes herself as a Texan, born and raised. But in a video that went viral after she posted it on YouTube last month, Pennington said her parents never obtained a birth certificate or other basic documentation of her life, leaving her with “nothing to prove my identity” — or her U.S. citizenship. Because she was home-schooled, she also has no school records. That means, the 19-year-old said, that she’s unable to get a job, go to college or obtain a driver’s licence.

To make things worse, Pennington said in the February video, her parents have refused to sign an affidavit that would help her prove her place of birth, leaving her with few legal options. On Tuesday, a Texas legislator introduced a bill to try to change that.


How a teenager s viral campaign to prove her citizenship is inspiring a new Texas bill - The Washington Post

Very strange that the parents refuse to help her. Hospitals keep records, but she doesn't know where. Very sad.

 

[Mad Scientist]

Texas Vital Statistics Birth Registration Frequently Asked Questions

Does every child born in Texas have to have a birth record?
Yes. According to the Health and Safety Code, the birth of each child born in this state shall be registered. [HSC §192.001]

Who is responsible for filing the birth certificate?
The physician, midwife, or person acting as a midwife in attendance at a birth shall file the birth certificate with the local registrar of the registration district in which the birth occurs. If a birth occurs in a hospital or birthing center, the hospital administrator, the birthing center administrator, or a designee of the appropriate administrator may file the birth certificate in lieu of the physician, midwife, or person acting as a midwife in attendance of the birth.

So there's already a Birth Record, she can use that info to get a Birth Cert if she wants.

No new State Law required.

 

[DGS49]

What if she was born at home? It happens. Who would see to it that she was registered if her parents didn't?

The real pity of this is that she missed out on her chance to play Little League Baseball - which requires a birth certificate.

 

[Slyhunter]

I call bullshit.