A question about citizenship

sachiko · 07-29-2010, 07:44 AM

I'm definitely in favor of returning illegal aliens to their respective homelands, but I see a problem. If a law enforcement officer were to ask me to prove that I'm a U.S. citizen, what would I do?

I have a birth certificate, somewhere, that shows I was born in Michigan, but I don't carry it with me. We got one to prove my age when I got my drivers license. Then we had to get another copy when we applied for a marriage license because we couldn't find the first one. I could find the second one, but, as I said, I don't carry it around with me.

I have a drivers license and a voter registration card, but I wasn't asked for proof of citizenship when I registered to vote and all they were interested in for the drivers and marriage license was proof of my age.

salukipv1 · 07-29-2010, 09:08 AM

Fix the "Illegal Employers Problem" and the illegal immigrant problem will be greatly affected.

LBR · 07-29-2010, 10:33 AM

I've been asked to show I.D. several times before--it happens even to caucasians

. Carry a valid I.D. (driver's license, state issued I.D. card, etc.)--something a LEO can verify easily--and you shouldn't have a problem.

C. Davis · 07-29-2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daddyslittlegirl

I'm definitely in favor of returning illegal aliens to their respective homelands, but I see a problem. If a law enforcement officer were to ask me to prove that I'm a U.S. citizen, what would I do?

DLG,
I know that you are not of Hispanic descent but this should work anyway. If you are ever asked to "show your papers," all you have to do is say these three words.

No hablo ingles.

They can't do anything to you if you do that. You might even get an apology for your trouble.

C. Davis

LBR · 07-29-2010, 08:36 PM

Although I figure I'm on dlg's I.I. (Imaginary Ignore), I'll offer this tidbit for anyone who cares to read it, and is thinking of trying the "no habla Ingles" trick.

LEO's really don't like dishonesty. They are generally good at figuring out when someone is being dishonest with them. You might be suprised at the number of LEO's that know at least enough Spanish to figure out whether or not you are telling the truth.

I saw a recruit try that trick with a Drill Sergeant in Basic Training. The D.I. knew Spanish better than the recruit. It didn't go well for the recruit.

What is so hard about carrying an I.D. anyway? Unless you are trying to buy liquor, get pulled over for a traffic violation, or are borrowing money (legally, from an institution), what are the chances you'll be asked for proof of citizenship/I.D. anyway? Do cops in MI just randomly yank people out of the crowd at the mall as ask for proof of citizenship? And isn't your hubby supposed to be some kind of lawyer? Seems like he could offer a better answer than I can.

falcon · 07-30-2010, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Fix the "Illegal Employers Problem" and the illegal immigrant problem will be greatly affected.

+1

The employers of illegal aliens are the real problem here. By law a person is required to fill out the I-9 INS form every time he/she is hired by a new company. The employer is required to peruse the ID document/s presented by the employee. They ain't doing this, of course.

This is another of the atrict US laws that is being ignored the US government.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9_cnmi.pdf

sachiko · 07-30-2010, 05:14 AM

I always have my drivers license and a picture student ID for identification. I even had a high school picture student ID. But my question is how does one prove that they are a citizen. If you apply for one, you CAN get a drivers license here that proves you are a citizen. It's useful for people who live in Michigan and work in Canada. (You have to cross one of the bridges to get into Canada from Michigan and vice versa.) But I don't have one of those.

I really don't anticipate any problem, but I was just wondering how one proves one is a citizen without producing a birth certificate or one of those certified drivers licenses.

7.62NATO · 07-30-2010, 06:08 AM

As another poster put it, "papers please" is not a valid request from the police IN MOST STATES. But most officers will lie and say you must present ID upon request. There is never a time when you need prove your citizenship to law enforcement at random. But to answer your question, your birth certificate would be sufficient.

sachiko · 07-30-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7.62NATO

But to answer your question, your birth certificate would be sufficient.

I agree, but I don't know of anyone who carries their birth certificate, or passport, around with them so as to be able to demonstrate U.S. citizenship. So could I be asked to prove my citizenship and be arrested and held until someone could bring a copy of my birth certificate to the jail?

newton29 · 07-30-2010, 04:33 PM

Most LEO's don't have the power to enforce immigration law, so most can't ask. They can often, however, request you identify yourself. That's why illegals don't carry ID. It's up to the LEO to trip them up in their story, arrest them for lying, and then fingerprint them. Sometimes, an illegal entry or other warrant pops up (immediately if using AFIS). If they simply don't get a return, there's not much they can do, other than hold them for a bond if it's an arrestable offense . Not that uncommon with Hispanics, since until arrested or they get an ID or DL, there will be no documentation. A Caucasion over the age of 18, however, with no state ID or DL is a rarity and will get a cop's attention.