Congress still considering matter of passports for people delivered by midwives

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BROWNSVILLE — More than a year after the U.S. Department of State began denying passport applications of Rio Grande Valley residents delivered by midwives, the issue is still being addressed in Congress and in pending class action lawsuits.

U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, broached the issue of arbitrary passport denials at a March 24 meeting between the Congressional Border Caucus and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"Denying passports or questioning the eligibility of an individual solely because the birth certificate is issued by a midwife is an arbitrary practice that has subjected thousands of U.S. citizens to unfair treatment," Ortiz said in a prepared statement.

He added that Clinton was very responsive to the concerns and agreed to review current practices.

Two class action lawsuits on the issue are currently pending. One, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Harlingen-based attorney Lisa Brodyaga, is "in the middle of settlement negotiations," according to Brodyaga.

Many of the plaintiffs originally named in the lawsuit have been granted their passports - a source of hope for others still awaiting a response from the U.S. Passport Office.

"Once you file a lawsuit, the government takes a second look at your application," Brodyaga said.

State Department officials would not comment due to the pending litigation.

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Kevin Sieff is a reporter with The Brownsville Herald.