David O’Connor, a Navy veteran and former commercial truck driver, has faced challenges renewing his license and obtaining a REAL ID in Tennessee. Despite being a U.S. citizen since birth, with documentation to prove it, officials at the Tennessee Driver Service Center mistakenly believed he was a noncitizen due to being born in Canada. This misunderstanding led to the cancellation of his license and refusal to issue a REAL ID, citing a state law prohibiting licenses for noncitizens. Despite presenting evidence such as his Navy discharge papers and Social Security status, O’Connor encountered difficulties convincing the employees of his citizenship status. Their only suggestion was for him to apply for citizenship, despite his longstanding U.S. citizenship.
The original article, “Brickbat: Driving Me Crazy,” can be found here.
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