Undocumented fathers unable to be listed on children’s birth certificates - Tennessee

The day her daughter was born, Stephanie Hernandez of Nashville hit all the customary emotional highs and lows ? and then found herself in the middle of the nation’s immigration debate.

In a flurry of pain, excitement and tears, her 7-pound, 1-ounce daughter, Christina, entered the world by emergency Caesarean section. Hours later, Baptist Hospital staff told Hernandez and her then-fiance that his name would not appear on Christina’s birth certificate.

It wasn’t the hospital’s choice. State policy requires unmarried fathers to present government-issued identification or proof they’re in the country legally to be listed on birth certificates. And in 2006, Tennessee stopped issuing driving certificates to illegal immigrants.”*

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