Puerto Ricans Born in Puerto Rico Must Apply for New Birth Certificates to Protect their Identity

SARASOTA -- Are you Puerto Rican and living in Florida or any of the other 50 states? Then make sure to apply for a new birth certificate to ensure your identity is secure by July 1, says Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder.

Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder is the president of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Florida, and she reminds local Puerto Ricans to apply for a new birth certificate by July 1.

Cuevas-Neunder is the president of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Florida, located in Sarasota.

She has taken on the task of  making sure local Puerto Ricans know that a law enacted in Puerto Rico to fight against identity theft invalidates previously issued Puerto Rican birth certificates as of July 1.

“Thousands of birth certificates were stolen out of Puerto Rico last March from schools and other places where the documents were stored,” she said. “This is a very serious issue and it’s not just about illegal entry, but also national security.”

She said that the birth certificates are in the hands of criminals, people who may have dangerous intentions, and Puerto Ricans living in the states must act immediately to ensure their identity is protected and not sold illegally.

“These birth certificates are being sold for $5,000 to $10,000 or more,” Cuevas-Neunder said. “We have 1.25 million Puerto Ricans living in Florida and 4 million living in America. This affects all of us.”

Mark July 1 on your calendar if you were born on the island because your birth certificate will no longer be valid. New ones will be issued, with proof of your identity, that have special markings on them to prevent identity and U.S. immigration fraud.

Just before the Easter holiday, Cuevas-Neunder sat in front of her computer and read from a news report issued out of Puerto Rico in February. In that report Puerto Rico's Secretary of State Kenneth McClintock said that the birth certificates of Puerto Ricans are desirable to many Latin Americans who seek to pass themselves off as Spanish-speaking U.S. citizens.

Also, Cuevas-Neunder added that people who were born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens at birth, due to Puerto Rico being a  U.S. commonwealth. Thus, people who are using a stolen Puerto Rico birth certificate could enter the U.S. easier, and this worries Cuevas-Neunder.

In a desperate effort to alert Puerto Ricans living in Florida, Cuevas-Neunder contacted U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan to ask for their help as leaders to publicize the issue.

“I haven’t heard from either of them,” she said. “It’s like we are out of sight, out of mind. But if they really cared about our national security and our identity, then they would show some interest.”

Although Cuevas-Neunder said that she often feels that her people are placed on a second-tier of priority for lawmakers, she won’t let that stop her from disseminating vital information and helping Puerto Ricans living in Florida from experiencing identity theft.

She said for people to contact her directly and she will assist them with the information for applying for the new birth certificates, or people who apply after July 1 can do so via mail for $5.

“I love being a Puerto Rican,” she said. “We are considered the happiest people in the world. We like to help everyone.”

In a big way, Cuevas-Neunder said she’d like to give some help back to her fellow Puerto Ricans, the people who could become victims of their island’s birth certificate thievery.

Erica Newport is a daily reporter for The Bradenton Times. She covers art, culture and community. If you have a story that might interest Erica, please e-mail her using erica.newport@thebradentontimes.com address.  She also takes your questions related to our weekly theme days and provides advice and opinions for our readers.

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