Indiana cannot deny paternity papers to illegal immigrants, judge rules

Courier-Journal.com
January 27, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS, IN

Indiana cannot deny paternity documents for children born in the U.S. just because their parents are illegal immigrants and don't have Social Security numbers, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt's ruling came in a lawsuit filed by parents who said a state policy requiring the numbers violates their children's rights under the 14th Amendment, which recognizes the children as U.S. citizens. Pratt issued a preliminary injunction barring the policy, which began last July.

“These newborn children are American citizens, and we have to remember that,â€