Rivera’s experience was the result of profiling or protocol
For Louisiana officials, it’s part of necessary precautions
connections to prevent fraud, identity theft and promote national security.
Rivera, a 27-year-old laborer, was born in Puerto Rico and therefore a citizen of the U.S. But he was forced to jump through a series of hoops when he tried to obtain a Louisiana driver’s license, including officials taking away his Social Security card and birth certificate at the Thibodaux Motor Vehicles office and asked questions that most applicants aren’t made to answer.
Whether Rivera’s experience was the result of profiling or protocol is difficult to objectively determine. What is certain at the very least, however, is that Rivera’s case is similar to a variety of problems people born in Puerto Rico have recently experienced in dealings with government agencies, a situation that is expected to worsen.
