Blocking Interstate Commerce: Truck Driver Detained after Failing to Produce Birth Certificate in AZ

[Clio the Leo]

(What's even more disturbing about this is the incident happened Wednesday ... the bill was signed Friday.)

Truck driver forced to show birth certificate claims racial-profiling

by Alicia E. Barrón
azfamily.com
Posted on April 21, 2010 at 5:04 PM
Updated Thursday, Apr 22 at 3:21 PM
PHOENIX – A Valley man says he was pulled over Wednesday morning and questioned when he arrived at a weigh station for his commercial vehicle along Val Vista and the 202 freeway.

Abdon, who did not want to use his last name, says he provided several key pieces of information but what he provided apparently was not what was needed.

He tells 3TV, “I don't think it's correct, if I have to take my birth certificate with me all the time.”

3TV caught up with Abdon after he was released from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in central Phoenix. He and his wife, Jackie, are still upset about what happened to him.

Jackie tells 3TV, “It's still something awful to be targeted. I can't even imagine what he felt, people watching like he was some type of criminal.”

Abdon was told he did not have enough paperwork on him when he pulled into a weigh station to have his commercial truck checked. He provided his commercial driver’s license and a social security number but ended up handcuffed.

An agent called his wife and she had to leave work to drive home and grab other documents like his birth certificate.

Jackie explains, “I have his social security card as well and mine. He's legit. It's the first time it's ever happened.”

Both were born in the United States and say they are now both infuriated that keeping important documents safely at home is no longer an option.

Jackie says, “It doesn't feel like it's a good way of life, to live with fear, even though we are okay, we are legal…still have to carry documents around.”

http://www.azfamily.com/video/featured-videos/Man-says-he-was-racially-targeted-forced-to-provide-birth-certificate-91769419.html

[Juneboarder]

1. Pure racism...

People, we need to stand up and not let this crap happen!

[peacebird]

2. his commercial lic & ssn were deemed not enough proof?

crap - i would be S.O.L. if i had to produce a birth certificate....

[Clio the Leo]

3. all of us would be. NT

[dkf]

4. Doesn't sound like the guy is Hispanic.

Maybe it is being applied fairly.

[Xithras]

5. He is hispanic.

Watch the video at the link. He looks hispanic and speaks with a hispanic accent. Apparently the police officer asked him a series of questions, and one of them was "Where are your parents?". He responded that his mother lived in Mexico, and the officer determined that to be sufficient evidence to arrest him. His license and other papers weren't enough.

He was actually born in Fresno California, if you were wondering. The guy is a native born citizen.

[AnArmyVeteran]

6. Papers are not enough! Everyone must travel with their parents and the doctor who delivered them...

And the parents and doctors must provide their papers too!

[FiveGoodMen]

7. So, America... Are we really gonna let this kind of shit go on?