ATLANTA _ Kenneth Caban Gonzalez wanted a driver's license when he walked into a Georgia Department of Driver Services office two years ago. Instead, he got a warrant for his arrest and a trip to the Liberty County jail.
The department was cracking down on fake Puerto Rican birth certificates, and it believed Caban Gonzalez _ who had recently arrived from the island _ had submitted bogus identification with his application.
But agency records obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution raise doubts about DDS' handling of Caban Gonzalez's case. They also raise broader questions about whether the agency, in its zeal to crack down on immigration fraud, has needlessly burdened other Puerto Ricans _ who are U.S. citizens _ by confiscating their identification.
The initial justification for Caban Gonzalez's arrest quickly proved faulty, records show. And federal officials later confirmed his documents were valid.
But DDS investigators didn't drop the charges until long after it was clear their case was flawed. And the agency still hasn't issued him a driver's license.
Caban Gonzalez has paid a steep price. He spent three days in jail. He lost a job because he couldn't drive to work. And he has struggled to support his family.
"I lost everything," Caban Gonzalez told the AJC in an interview last week at his home in Hinesville. "I lost a lot of money."
Caban Gonzalez has filed a federal lawsuit against DDS, saying the department illegally discriminates against Puerto Ricans. The agency declined to comment on its handling of his case, citing the lawsuit and an ongoing GBI investigation.
"It is DDS' policy and Commissioner (Spencer) Moore's expectation that every DDS team member treat all customers with the utmost respect while ensuring that all state and federal legal requirements are satisfied before issuance" of a license, the agency said in a statement to the newspaper.
Dozens of other Puerto Ricans have complained of poor treatment by the department. Advocates say Caban Gonzalez's arrest has sparked fear among island natives, who worry they'll wind up in jail if they seek a driver's license.
"People are genuinely scared," said Kira Romero-Craft, Caban Gonzalez's attorney. "A lot of people are really scared to share their experiences."
