Puerto Ricans Takes Kenneth Cabán Gonzalez’s Lawsuit Victory as Inspiration
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For almost 2.5 years, Kenneth Cabán Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen who grew up in Puerto Rico, had won over a case that grants him the right to be issued a state driver's license.

The Kenneth Cabán Gonzalez Lawsuit

The lawsuit was filed in July 2019. The Department of Driver Services in Georgia had decided to implement changes to eliminate barriers for Puerto Rican immigrants who are living in Georgia who are trying to obtain a driver's license.

An article from NBC News stated that one of the changes they are planning to implement is the nixing of the 'Puerto Rico Interview guide.' It gives a test to people to determine their knowledge about the island. This will help assure that these people are from Puerto Rico. This is a step that is not required for United States citizens who are applying for their driver's license.

It was a long battle for Cabán Gonzalez. On Monday he finally wins his legal battle. It was reported that in October 2017, he was accused by the Hinesville DDS office to have submitted falsified documents.

Cabán Gonzalez revealed how his victory was very emotional for him. However, he added that it should have been something that should've been granted to him right from the beginning.

Initially, DDS officials had withheld his identification documents. These documents included his original driver's license, birth certificate, and social security card. These documents were confiscated before starting an investigation against him.

After the confiscation of his identification documents, he was later detained for three days. He was charged with forgery and fraud felonies. However, these charges were later dropped.

In December, the department relieved the deputy director in office and demoted a senior manager for a Georgia Bureau of Investigation case. The probe revealed that the two officials in the department had acted outside of the protocol.

Fear of Identification Documents' Confiscation

Atteeyah Hollie, one of the senior lawyers with the Southern Center for Human Rights and the LatinoJustice PRLDEF revealed that she was shocked to find out that the Puerto Rican residents in Hinesville had not considered applying for a driver's license. She found out that the Puerto Ricans in the area feared that their identification documents may also be taken from them if they apply for a driver's license in the DDS.

Hollie revealed how the Puerto Ricans in Hinesville was scared of being arrested or prosecuted and defamed.

An Inspiration to the Puerto Rican Community in Georgia

Upon the victory of Kenneth Cabán Gonzalez's case, his lawyers are hopeful that it will have a wide-ranging impact on the Puerto Rican community in their area.

According to Kira Romero-Craft, the managing lawyer of the South Office of the LatinoJustice PRLDF, the victory of Cabán Gonzalez's case has already influenced change towards his entire community. The office hopes that Puerto Ricans who will be entering Georgia for whatever purpose will feel empowered and part of the community.

Romero-Craft shared how she felt disbelief when she was informed of the case of Cabán Gonzalez.

Based on the reports of the investigation conducted by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Georgia is exerting immense efforts to fight fraud in comparison to other states in the US.