YSK: How to document that you are a US citizen

https://www.usa.gov/prove-us-citizenship

The most common way to show that you are a US citizen is to show a passport. However, only about 50% of US citizens have a passport.

An alternative to a passport is a Certificate of Citizenship.

Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization show proof that someone is a U.S. citizen. The website https://www.usa.gov/prove-us-citizenship shows how you can get or replace these documents.

Prove your citizenship: born in the U.S. with no birth certificate. If you were born in the U.S. and have no birth certificate, learn how to get documentation to prove you are a U.S. citizen.

Prove your citizenship: born outside the U.S. to a U.S. citizen parent. Prove your U.S. citizenship without a birth certificate if you were born outside the U.S. to a U.S. citizen.

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[–] 85 points 1 year ago (4 children)

ICE is not asking people for proof of citizenship. They are pulling up in unmarked vehicles, wearing masks, and grabbing people off the street.

I agree you should make sure you do have proof. But don't expect it to stop armed masked thugs if they roll up for you.

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  • [–] 13 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    I know it is possible for some people to get a second, valid passport if they travel often enough, so that they can travel when one is being renewed, or if they travel between countries where a visa stamp from some other country might deny them entry.

    Maybe "I look brown so ICE may confiscate my passport without due process" can now be a reason to get a second valid passport ....

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  • [–] 14 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Elsewhere in a comment someone mentioned Passport Cards. iirc they're only valid for travel to Mexico and Canada, but they are proofs of citizenship, and you can have a card as well as a passport.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Its the passport that also works for domestic air travel now that they banned drivers' licenses.

    It does not have your address on it, so its a safer document to use to prove your age.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago

    * banned drivers licenses that don't meet the requirements that have had their implementation date pushed back repeatedly for a decade+. We will do anything and everything but have an actual national ID.

    I don't think any drivers licenses count as proof of citizenship though. (Even before, as noted, factoring in that they're not looking.)

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