Children of undocumented immigrants have been denied birth certificates despite being born within the U.S., according to a lawsuit filed in Texas.

Four women filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Texas Department of State Health Services and alleged constitutional discrimination as the 14th Amendment recognizes people born in the U.S. as citizens.

According to the Texas Observer, Jennifer Harbury of the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, who is representing the women, said the birth certificate refusals started last winter. She added, "I've never seen such a large number of women with this problem. In the past someone might be turned away, but it was always resolved. This is something altogether new."

The lawsuit noted the women requested birth certificates but were turned away due to insufficient proof of their identities. If a mother lacks a Texas driver's license or U.S. passport, the Lone Star State's law states a foreign ID is allowable, but city and county employees told the women they would not accept photo ID provided by the Mexican consulate, known as matricula consular, or foreign passport without a current U.S. visa.

"It's not up to the state to decide on immigration policy. This is a federal issue," Harbury told NBC News. "The state of Texas has to accommodate these women. They can't disenfranchise them."

A spokeswoman for Texas' health services agency said federal agencies do not recognize the matricula consular because the Mexican consulate does not authenticate or verify source documents. The spokeswoman said that has been Texas' policy since 2008.

Harbury, however, said Texas did not enforced the policy until late 2014, coinciding with the influx of undocumented unaccompanied immigrant children entering the U.S. through the southern border. As a response, then-Gov. Rick Perry and current Gov. Greg Abbott placed strict policies on securing the southern border.

As Latin Post reported, Abbott signed a comprehensive border security legislation in June. The Mexican Foreign Ministry criticized the bill in a Spanish-language statement. The Mexican government "regrets" Abbott's decision to enact HB11 -- a $800 million bill including the hiring of 250 additional border troopers. In addition, Mexican officials believe the legislation promotes a "division" between both societies and contradicts the principles and values of the U.S. and Mexico's bilateral relationship.

"It is number one, the cornerstone proof of the parent-child relationship and the cornerstone official proof that the child was born here," Harbury said. "They shouldn't have to spend months trying to scramble for medical care, school enrollment and educational projects. They need to get their benefits as U.S. citizens."

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