[cborsa7]

This topic comes up a lot.
This article was posted today, could you imagine this happening to your child and NOT having your COC?

Immigration Legal System Flawed - Phoenix News Story - KPHO Phoenix

[Waiting4Celeste]

Thanks for posting this.
I think we rely on the "system" all too often and expect that we'll be fine in these situations. It's a good reminder that the more documentation that we have, the better off our children will be.

[azamboni]

Wow, scary! Yeah, I'm thinking I don't trust the govt. to just believe anything I say (or my son says) without paperwork to back it up, especially on something so important.

[Mommy K]

Thanks for the link Kelly!
Does anyone know how to get a replacement COC?

[dac_cincy]

The information is at the top of the Gautemalan discussion board as a sticky. I used them last night to print the documents for anme change on an existing COC.

I am just thinking though- in the cases cited, many of the folks were not even allowed a phone call, so unless the COC is carried by the person, how will they be able to prove citizenship? Just a thought, seems to me that thre needs to be reform in how detainees are treated to afford them the same rights to representation/access to phone/access to family and friends as other "criminals" are given. Not saying that immigration detainees are criminals- just saying that if they are locked up- then at least give them the right to prove innocence.

Love to you,
Deb

[DPline]

Originally Posted by Mommy K

Thanks for the link Kelly!
Does anyone know how to get a replacement COC?

USCIS form N565. If you go to the USCIS site you will see it.



Deb - I agree. I think what I took from the article though is not so much the specific circumstances, just that govt. agencies can choose to make their own rules/not follow rules/ etc. (like all the issues people have with SSA and passports) and having all the proper documentation should the need arise is vitally important.

[cborsa7]

I think what I took from the article though is not so much the specific circumstances, just that govt. agencies can choose to make their own rules/not follow rules/ etc. (like all the issues people have with SSA and passports) and having all the proper documentation should the need arise is vitally important.

Debbie, well said!!!
It is the least we can do to protect our kids.

[Devora]

It is the least we can do to protect our kids.

And hopefully knowing about these kinds of issues will prompt more of us to get involved in some way in protecting immigrants' rights in the US. Our children are immigrants, too. Whether it's through writing letters to our legislators, supporting immigrant advocacy groups, writing letters to the editor, participating in public demonstrations, or simply speaking up in conversations with family, friends, and acquaintances -- whatever we are comfortable with -- I think it's incumbent upon us to do something to counter anti-immigrant bias.

The issues are complex, there are no easy answers, and all sides of the debates have some merit -- but it's important to remember and to remind others that "immigrants" include many people who came here for many reasons and in many ways, including our children. Often times I find that people who endorse the most anti-immigrant rhetoric want to say "but your kids are different because they were adopted" or "their situation is different because they immigrated legally" -- but they are still immigrants. They are subject to immigration law, to the reactions they will get when they fill out I-9 forms, and (for those who are visibly Hispanic) how strangers will perceive them. Our loving them doesn't erase any of that.

[cborsa7]

I am bumping this for someone who wanted to read about this important information.