[Slonopotam845]

Dorothy,
According to the article, these questions are being asked of people from the border states with Mexico who weren't born in hospitals. It looks like the government is trying to confirm they were actually born in this country. I don't think this is a Federal Jew Hunt.

...According to the case’s 2009 settlement, “the Department of State engaged in a policy, pattern, and practice of categorically applying heightened scrutiny to a class of passport applicants whose births in Southwestern border states were attended by midwives or birth attendants or whose citizenship is claimed through a parent whose birth in a Southwestern border state was attended by a midwife or birth attendant.” Several of the plaintiffs eventually received their U.S. passports...

There are fewer questions for applicants born in a medical facility and whose births were recorded within a year of their births, but they could also be asked to delve deeper into whatever records they have. All applicants who must complete the biographical questionnaire would need to furnish information related to every residence they have ever had in this country or abroad, every job ever held and every school ever attended. The places and dates of births of every relative (from child to stepfather) living or deceased are also requested... http://www.texastribune.org/texas-me...for-passports/

[Fegasderty]

I agree with your analysis of the information as of now. I was bothered by the following request for information.
"Were you circumcised at birth and was it a part of a religious ceremony? If so, who was there and why?" Since when did the Mexican culture have religious ceremonies for circumcision? In addition I think it is wise to keep our eyes open for precedents. Right now there is a bruhaha about passports for those born in Israel, Jerusalem. If nothing happens so much the better.

I can't get messages because of a pop up blocker. I don't know if it's mine or something connected with Israel Forum.

[Lillie_Steins]

Apparently, the questionnaire asks whether the person was BAPTIZED or circumcised. The inclusion of "circumcision" appears to be a politically correct attempt by US officials to avoid being targeted by liberal Jews as having a "religious bias". Of course, few Mexicans have religious circumcisions as infants; but baptismal certificates have been used for centuries as proof of birth in Christian countries. Besides religious circumcision, surgical circumcision for health reasons has been practiced by the majority of non-Jewish Americans for decades. At least, when I attended public school and got to see the results in the locker room, that was the case. In fact, I don't even recall seeing uncircumcised boys at all. Perhaps that has changed in recent years. The bottom line is, most Americans of my generation were circumcised within days of birth; and there is usually some sort of hospital record of this fact.

[Lt_Apple]

...I can't get messages because of a pop up blocker. I don't know if it's mine or something connected with Israel Forum.

Any pop up blockers would be on your end. Usually your browser will warn you of a popup and ask you how you want to handle it. If that is not occurring, you might want to try another browser such as SeaMonkey or Opera. If all else fails, ask a 12 year old to help. No insult intended on the suggestion to ask a 12 year old for help, they are always on top of these kind of things.

[NeroASERCH]

Thanks for your help. Your advice was good.

[Ifroham4]

Since I can't post a new thread and can't post attachments, how do I get some new information out. I haven't been posting here for that reason. It's like only being allowed to stay inside a box. This article appeared in the Texas Tribune on April 6. It appears that several individuals wanting passports lacked birth certificates and claimed discrimination because they were born with midwives. As a result, officials will be demanding additional information for passports to be given.



Feds Mull Circumcision Inquiries for Passports
by Julian Aguilar 4/6/2011

"Were you circumcised at birth and was it a part of a religious ceremony? If so,
who was there and why? Do you know what kind of pre- or post-natal care your
mother received when she was pregnant and what the dates and times of those
appointments with her doctors were? For as many as 74,000 U.S. citizens a year,
supplying this information to the U.S. State Department could be the difference
between getting or being rejected for a passport.

"In February the department announced it was posting to the Federal Register a
public notice seeking comments on a new proposal that would require the
additional information when a passport applicant "submits citizenship or
identity evidence that is insufficient or of questionable authenticity." The
comment period ends this month, and the government will subsequently evaluate
the comments and decide if it will enact the new rule. The State Department did
not respond to several requests made for comment about the proposal." There is more at the link which I can't give.

This is a foot in the door idea I think is very dangerous. We need Jewish leadership to check out what is going on, but I don't see anyone doing it.

[Peptobismol]

Questions like this for a passport application are both silly and stupid. They are a symptom of a growing bureaucracy though. Bureaucracies will get bigger until they collapse in revolution or chaos. Then new ones will start. This is a cycle of history.