By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

Hoping to thwart identity thieves, Puerto Rican officials passed a law requiring all island-born citizens, including those who live in the U.S., to apply for a more secure birth certificate.

The Puerto Rican government began its campaign July 1, offering a three-month grace period to file the new paperwork before the old birth certificates expire Sept. 30.

“We want people to be aware of the changes,” Sarah Echols, of the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Administration, said. "Understanding the risks to all individuals, this new law is aimed at improving the security of all birth certificates and better protecting those who are Puerto Rico-born from fraud and identity theft. It is important to understand that there is no need to rush out and get a new birth certificate; only those who have a specific need for the document for official purposes need request a new birth certificate right away."

Since July 1, more than 140,000 new birth certificates have been issued by the Puerto Rican government. The redesigned documents are made from “special paper that is hard to reproduce,” said Echols, adding that the printing of the documents uses the latest in security techniques.

Previously, Puerto Ricans often had several copies of their birth certificates readily available since everyone from the doctor's office to summer camp sign-ups asked for a copy.

This practice “led for them to be very vulnerable to theft,” Echols said.

Gangs targeted and broke into places that kept the government-issued paperwork, most recently an elementary school on the island, and used the documents to create fake identification and passports to enter the U.S.

Officials created a new, more secure version of the birth certificate in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State to protect not only identities of Puerto Ricans but also Americans from terrorists able to assume an easily-attainable identity.

The new law also puts a stop to the practice of agencies or government entities from asking for and keeping a copy of anyone's birth certificate. Echols said people may be required to show the document but it will not be kept by anyone.

Liberty Tax Service, 1311 E. Vine St., Kissimmee, held a birth certificate drive July 24 where nearly 1,000 Puerto Rican-born Central Floridians waited hours to order their new birth certificates.

Echols stressed that no one needs to rush out and obtain a new birth certificate unless it is needed for a pressing issue, such as signing up a child for school or applying for a driver license.

Ruben De Jesus, owner of Liberty Tax Service, orchestrated the event, which hosted residents from as far away as Winter Haven and Pompano Beach. De Jesus financed the event, at a cost of approximately $1,500, by providing copying services and stamps to mail the documents to Puerto Rico.

"It's a need of the community, mostly older folks who are not proficient in the Internet or computers or they have a limited education. I had people signing with Xs," De Jesus said. "I probably covered only 1 percent of people who need this service. I just touched the tip of the iceberg."

Since the event, De Jesus has received more than 50 calls a day about holding another drive.

Kissimmee Commissioner Art Otero partnered with De Jesus to bring awareness to citizens who need this service. Otero said stolen Puerto Rican identities are going for upwards of $10,000.

"ID theft creates an emergency for anyone who has a (Puerto Rican) birth certificate," Otero said. "I know a lot of people don't know about this. It's becoming a headache."

De Jesus will host another birth certificate drive Aug. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Oasis Worship Center, 3261 S. John Young Parkway, Kissimmee. A government-issued identification is required.

Residents have three ways to order the new birth certificates, which cost $5. Orders can be placed online through the Puerto Rican government's website at www.pr.gov or through VitalChek, a document provider the government has partnered with, at  HYPERLINK "http://www

.vitalchek.com/"www.vitalchek.com.

Orders also can be placed through VitalChek via their 24/7 bilingual call center at 866-842-6765. Additional processing and shipping fees may apply with VitalChek.

The certificates can also be ordered via postal service by downloading the application form from the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Administration at www.prfaa.com/birthcertificates and following the instructions at the bottom of the page.

The certificates can also be ordered via postal service by downloading the application form from the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Administration at www.prfaa.com/birthcertificates and following the instructions at the bottom of the page.