BMV tries to ease concerns about verification letters

by Nora Gathings (hsgathings@wsbt.com)

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People packed into a meeting in South Bend on February 12, 2008. They wanted questions answered about a Bureau of Motor Vehicle request to verify Social Security numbers. (WSBT photo)

By Jim Pinkerton

Story Created: Feb 12, 2008 at 10:46 PM EST

Story Updated: Feb 21, 2008 at 7:34 PM EST

SOUTH BEND — Thousands of Hoosiers could lose their driver's license at the end of the month because they didn't provide proof of their identity. There's confusion in the Hispanic community about why this is being done. So the Bureau of Motor Vehicles tried to ease those concerns Tuesday night.

A BMV spokesperson says ethnicity was never a factor. He says they went through all records and sent letters to people whose name on their driver's license did not match Social Security records to prevent fraud.

"I have to take my children to school every day. I have to drive everywhere to live, so does my husband," said Cristina Gomez.

Immigration attorney Rudy Monterrosa says the problem is some people don't have multiple forms of identification.

"The letter they first send out says we are trying to figure out if your name matches. When it does, they say show me other documents to prove you are in the country legally," he said.

Many, like Gomez, have a Social Security number, but no residency card. Monterrosa believes Hispanics are being targeted, but the BMV says not so.

"No BMV record has any indication of ethnicity. We don't know the ethnicity of people. If you go to the BMV, you will find nothing to indicate race, ethnicity, or national orientation. It's not important to us," said Dennis Rosebrough, BMV Communications Director.

The deadline to verify your Social Security number if you got a letter was January 31. The BMV is still processing some of the paperwork. So, if you a got a letter and have NOT verified your information, you can still do it.

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