Navy Veteran Declared Non-Citizen, Loses License After Real ID Application
A Navy veteran went in to get a Tennessee Real ID driver’s license and ended up having the state take his American citizenship away, The Western Journal reports.
David O’Connor went to the Driver Service Center in McMinn County last month to renew his license and obtain a Real ID. Real IDs were created by Congress in 2005 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. One must provide documents to prove U.S. citizenship to qualify for a Real ID.
According to the state’s website, “Official Birth Certificate issued by a U.S. state, jurisdiction or territory (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Swain’s Island, Guam),” “U.S. Government-issued Certified Birth Certificate,” “U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad (DS-1350 or FS-545)” or “Valid, unexpired U.S. Passport” are all acceptable documents.
“They told me I shouldn’t have had the license in the first place ’cause I couldn’t prove that I was a citizen,” the 77-year-old told WTVF in an interview.
O’Connor was born in Canada. His parents, both American citizens, temporarily moved to Canada and after he was born, they moved back to the U.S. Since his parents were U.S. citizens, the law says that O’Connor is an American citizen as well. His citizenship is listed on his birth certificate.
The Driver Service Center disagreed.
“They said, ‘No, that’s no good. We shouldn’t have given you the license in the first place,’” he said. “And they just canceled my license right then and there.”
“It says on my paperwork I am a U.S. citizen,” O’Connor told WTVF.
O’Connor has a Social Security card and receives benefits since he is retired. He joined the Navy at the age of 17, serving four years as a sonar tech. He also has commercial driver’s licenses in New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Tennessee. He had a license for 61 years.
“I’ve been here for 77 years,” O’Connor said. “None of this [situation] makes any sense to me.”
O’Connor suspects that he will be deceased by the time the state corrects the issue. He said that he missed being able to drive his truck. O’Connor and his wife had plans to visit Vermont, but without a license, he could not fly and had to cancel their flight. Their son had to drive them there.
O’Connor’s nightmare comes as the Biden administration opposes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would stop illegal immigrants and non-citizens from voting in federal elections.
David O’Connor went to the Driver Service Center in McMinn County last month to renew his license and obtain a Real ID. Real IDs were created by Congress in 2005 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. One must provide documents to prove U.S. citizenship to qualify for a Real ID.
According to the state’s website, “Official Birth Certificate issued by a U.S. state, jurisdiction or territory (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Swain’s Island, Guam),” “U.S. Government-issued Certified Birth Certificate,” “U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad (DS-1350 or FS-545)” or “Valid, unexpired U.S. Passport” are all acceptable documents.
“They told me I shouldn’t have had the license in the first place ’cause I couldn’t prove that I was a citizen,” the 77-year-old told WTVF in an interview.
O’Connor was born in Canada. His parents, both American citizens, temporarily moved to Canada and after he was born, they moved back to the U.S. Since his parents were U.S. citizens, the law says that O’Connor is an American citizen as well. His citizenship is listed on his birth certificate.
The Driver Service Center disagreed.
“They said, ‘No, that’s no good. We shouldn’t have given you the license in the first place,’” he said. “And they just canceled my license right then and there.”
“It says on my paperwork I am a U.S. citizen,” O’Connor told WTVF.
O’Connor has a Social Security card and receives benefits since he is retired. He joined the Navy at the age of 17, serving four years as a sonar tech. He also has commercial driver’s licenses in New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Tennessee. He had a license for 61 years.
“I’ve been here for 77 years,” O’Connor said. “None of this [situation] makes any sense to me.”
O’Connor suspects that he will be deceased by the time the state corrects the issue. He said that he missed being able to drive his truck. O’Connor and his wife had plans to visit Vermont, but without a license, he could not fly and had to cancel their flight. Their son had to drive them there.
O’Connor’s nightmare comes as the Biden administration opposes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would stop illegal immigrants and non-citizens from voting in federal elections.
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