Somali parents in Minneapolis encounter significant challenges obtaining Social Security cards for children born abroad, often facing unexpected documentation requests and delays despite providing valid citizenship proof. Abdi’s struggle underscores a systemic issue affecting immigrant families navigating the complex application process.
By Abdirizak M Diis
Some Somali Parents attempting to get Social Security cards for their children who have lived outside the U.S. for some time are facing significant obstacles at the Minneapolis Social Security Administration office at 1811 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404. Many report feeling unfairly treated, especially parents of children 12 and older.
Abdi, a parent who did not share his last name, is navigating the challenging application process for his three children, aged 12, 16, and 17. All three children have valid U.S. passports and naturalization certificates, but only the youngest received a Social Security Number (SSN). The applications for the older siblings were denied.
“I submitted all the required documents to prove their citizenship, age, and identity,” Abdi said. He provided high school diplomas issued in Kenya, along with U.S. naturalization certificates, passports, and birth certificates. However, Social Security officials unexpectedly requested further proof of identity.
“They initially asked for a birth certificate and U.S. passport. When I provided them, they demanded school records like report cards and the last five years of tax returns,” he said.
Abdi explained that he provided a high school diploma, a U.S. passport, a birth certificate, and three years of tax returns. Even after meeting these requirements, “I was asked to present a five-year passport document instead of the three-year passport issued to his child at the U.S. embassy in Nairobi,” he said. These additional requirements are not mentioned in official guidelines.
Frustrated with the process, Abdi considered traveling to another state, having heard that parents go as far as Arizona to get Social Security cards for their children. “It feels like a never-ending loop,” he said, sounding defeated.
The importance of a Social Security number cannot be overstated. It is a unique identifier for U.S. citizens and some residents, used to track income and eligibility for benefits. Beyond that, it is essential for everyday activities like obtaining credit, opening bank accounts, accessing government benefits or private insurance, and making significant purchases like homes or cars. This wide range of use shows how important a Social Security number is in financial and legal transactions.
Abdi traveled from Kenya with his children to secure Social Security cards for them. However, to meet the requirements, he found himself forced to obtain a new passport for two of his children from the Minneapolis Passport Office. Abdi’s children already have a three-year-valid U.S. passport issued at the U.S. embassy in Kenya.
According to the Social Security Administration’s website and application documents at the Minneapolis Social Security office, applicants must provide documents that prove citizenship, age, and identity. Acceptable proof may include a state-issued nondriver ID, a valid U.S. passport, an adoption decree, a certified school record for U.S. citizens, or a birth certificate. Abdi’s children have valid U.S. passports, birth certificates, and naturalization certificates, which should meet the criteria. The demand for additional documents only served to cause confusion and delays.
We contacted the Minneapolis Social Security Administration office for comment and talked to Verge Phoenix, the regional office manager of the Social Security Administration.
Verge confirmed that the Minneapolis office requires tax returns if a child has lived outside the U.S. for a substantial amount of time. When we asked him what he meant by “substantial,” he just said, “It depends.” He also confirmed that they do not accept three-year U.S. passports, even if they are still valid. “This is a kind of tricky,” he said.
We asked him why these requirements were not mentioned on the official website. He said, “Some policies are sensitive and are not publicly shared.”
We emailed Verge’s supervisor with additional questions but have not received a response. We also contacted Senator Amy Klobersher’s and Representative Ilhan Omar’s offices but have not heard back from them.
Abdi also visited the Mankato Social Security Administration office but was directed back to the Minneapolis office because it is closer to his residence.
The next day, Somali Media of Minnesota (SMM) accompanied Abdi to the Minneapolis office to see the process firsthand. An officer pulled out a checklist paper, which SMM received a copy of, and asked for a long list of documents, including medical records, tax returns, school transcripts, passports, and birth certificates.
The officer even asked Abdi to write a statement declaring that the children were born outside the U.S., never visited U.S. clinics, and never attended U.S. schools. After that, the officer took the documents to her supervisor, and Abdi’s request was approved.
The officer thanked Abdi for bringing all the documents. “Sometimes other people don’t have all these documents,” she said in acknowledgment.
Abdi was relieved but noted that, in the previous applications, “They took all these steps and rejected it at the last step.” He explained to us that he pressed on this far to ensure his children “have what they need to succeed.”
SMM spoke with three parents who face similar hurdles in their attempts to get Social Security cards for their children. Abdi’s experience highlights a broader issue impacting many immigrant families in the area.
