MIDWIVES PASSPORT WORKSHOPS IN LAREDO MAY 18-23
Written by Post Public Information Representative, May 8, 2010, 0 Comments
Courtesy Ashley Patterson,
State Department Says Certain Applicants May Qualify for Free Passport
Washington, DC – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) today announced that the U.S. Department of State is calling upon previous passport applicants in Texas , who were delivered by midwives or birth attendants, to register as class members of a class action settlement by June 1, 2010 in order to reapply for their passport at no additional cost.
State Department officials will host a workshop in Laredo on Tuesday, May 18 through Sunday, May 23, 2010, to educate local residents on this issue and to help them register for class membership.
“We are calling on all Laredoans who were born to midwives but denied a passport to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Since new passport rules went into place at our borders, I have been working with the State Department to ensure our communities are treated fairly when it comes to their passport applications. These workshops are vitally important in helping qualifying individuals register by June, 1 2010.”
The successful class action lawsuit, known as Castelano, et al. v. Clinton et al, was in response to claims that there were discrepancies in how passport officials reviewed applications of individuals born to midwives and birth attendants. As a result, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and the U.S. Department of State have agreed to give qualifying individuals an opportunity to reapply for passports under new procedures without having to pay the passport application fee.
Potential “class members” or individuals who can benefit from this class action settlement, must meet all of the following three criteria and must register for class membership by June 1, 2010:
1. Individuals filed an application for a passport in the United States between April 8, 2003 and August 14, 2009
2. Individuals have a birth certificate that was filed or registered in Texas by a midwife or birth attendant
3. Individuals received a letter stating the application was “filed without further action,” “abandoned” or “closed,” or did not receive a response.
The week of May 18-23 (Tuesday through Sunday), Laredoans can meet with State Department officials to submit passport applications and to receive assistance in determining if they are a Castelano class member:
Laredo Public Library
1120 E. Calton Road
Laredo, Texas
May 18-23, 2010
Tuesday-Saturday: 9:00AM-6:00PM
Sunday: 1:00PM-5:00PM
To determine if you are a Castelano Class Member please call the State Department at 1(877) 487-2778 or log on to www.travel.state.gov/passport for more information. Registration must be received no later than June 1, 2010.
