"Upland woman denied passage on cruise ship
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 12/19/2010 10:20:59 PM PST

UPLAND - An Upland anti-illegal immigration activist recently found herself without the proper documentation to board a cruise ship in San Diego with her family.

Robin Hvidston had tried to use her hospital-issued birth certificate and California driver's license to board a Holland America cruise to Hawaii, which had worked successfully three years ago.

But she was denied passage due to a change in required documentation made by the Department of Homeland Security in 2009.

"I used this exact same birth certificate three years ago to board a similar cruise in Holland America in San Diego," she said. "I had no idea we would be in this situation."

Hvidston's mother, Eileen Olsen, and sister were able to board the cruise with their passports, but Hvidston had to return home.

The trip was planned to celebrate Hvidston's birthday and Thanksgiving.

Since the cruise had a one-day stop in Ensenada, Mexico, it was required to show proof of citizenship.

On the back of Hvidston's birth certificate, it says the document can be used as proof of citizenship.

But due to the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative June 2009, only a government- issued birth certificate is accepted, said Joanne Ferreira, spokesperson for Customs and Border Patrol.

Passengers on closed loop cruises, which depart and return at the same port, must have a passport or government-issued birth certificate and government-issued

http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_16901058
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