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Associated Press - March 3, 2010 3:54 PM ET
CHICAGO (AP) - State officials say at least 50,000 Illinoisans born in Puerto Rico will have to get new birth certificates because of a law enacted in the U.S. island commonwealth.
Puerto Rico enacted the law in December to help combat identity theft. Federal officials have said up to 40 percent of U.S. identity fraud involves birth certificates from Puerto Rico.
As of July 1, all previously issued Puerto Rican birth certificates are void. It will affect more than a third of the 4.1 million people of Puerto Rican descent living in the 50 states.
Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez says the law is unfair and will pose a major inconvenience, but will also help protect people.
On the Net:
Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration:
http://www.prfaa.com/birthcertificates
Application for birth certificate:
http://www.salud.gov.pr/Programas/RegistroDemografico/Pages/RequisitosparasolicituddeNacimiento.aspx
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