Puerto Rico Takes Steps to Eradicate Identity Theft with New Birth Certificates
San Juan, PR - A New Era of Security Begins
The government of Puerto Rico has announced that it will begin issuing new birth certificates on July 1st, marking a significant step towards eradicating identity theft and fraudulent US passport applications. This move comes after a series of school burglaries in 2007, which led to the theft of over 12,000 birth certificates.
The New Birth Certificates: Designed with Anti-Fraud Properties
The new birth certificates have been designed with anti-fraud properties that make it nearly impossible for criminals to counterfeit them. “We’re not going to let identity thieves take advantage of our citizens anymore,” said Kenneth McClintock, Puerto Rico’s Secretary of State.
Old Birth Certificates to Become Invalid
The old birth certificates will be invalid from September 30th, and anyone born in Puerto Rico will need to obtain a new one. This move is expected to prevent most identity theft cases on the island.
- Up to now, it was possible for criminals to steal hundreds of birth certificates at once by breaking into schools.
- With the new system, criminals would have to break into individual homes to steal multiple birth certificates.
Support and Criticism
The new law has received support from most Puerto Ricans, but some critics argue that it will cause unnecessary inconvenience and may lead to discrimination against those living on the US mainland.
Concerns about Discrimination
Latino Rights groups have expressed concerns that the invalidation of Puerto Rican birth certificates is yet another problem faced by Hispanic communities. Some Puerto Ricans living in the 50 states have reported having their birth certificates rejected when applying for a driving license or other services.
Dismissal of Concerns
However, McClintock dismissed concerns about discrimination, saying that the new law will actually raise awareness among Americans that people born in Puerto Rico are US citizens from birth. “This issue has reminded America that Puerto Ricans are American citizens and deserve the same rights as any other US citizen,” he said.
Security Features of the New Birth Certificates
The new birth certificates have been designed with special security features, including:
- Watermarks
- Other unspecified anti-fraud measures
Only the signatures of Puerto Rico’s governor and the director of the Demographic Registry are printed on the certificates in San Juan.
Background Information
Puerto Rico has been a US territory since 1898, and people born there are automatically American citizens. However, the island’s unique status has made it vulnerable to identity theft and fraudulent passport applications. The new birth certificates aim to put an end to this problem once and for all.