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Congressman Gonzalez Statement on Passport Denials on U.S.-Mexico Border

August 31, 2018

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) issued the following statement in response to reports that Hispanic Americans along the U.S.-Mexico border are being questioned about their citizenship status and being denied U.S. passports.

"When you question the authenticity of documents issued by the federal government, and second guess the citizenship of targeted demographics in a border region, or Spanish speakers in a non-border region, you are moving this country in a questionable direction. The idea that because some few people falsified documents, has created a presumption that all documents issued in a region are to be questioned is like saying someone is guilty until proven innocent. I plan to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to utilize our powers of congressional oversight and end these unwarranted actions that have gone on for far too long."

The congressman is working on legislation to address this issue with the State Department to prevent and end this discriminatory practice.