David O’Connor, a US Navy veteran who has lived in America for over seven decades, feels like his country “doesn’t want him” after his citizenship was challenged by authorities in Tennessee. As the nation celebrates Independence Day on July 4, O’Connor is embroiled in a dispute with the state DMV, which revoked his license, claiming he could not prove his US citizenship.
Longtime resident and driver
The 77-year-old has been a professional truck driver for 61 years, holding licenses in New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont, according to NewsChannel5. He obtained a license in Tennessee eight years ago, but last month the state canceled it. “They told me I shouldn’t have had the license in the first place ‘cause I couldn’t prove that I was a citizen,” O’Connor told NewsChannel5.
Citizenship complications
Both of O’Connor’s parents are US citizens but were briefly living in Canada when he was born, resulting in a Canadian birth certificate. This certificate was rejected when O’Connor attempted to renew his license and obtain a “Real ID” at the Driver Service Center in McMinn County. “They said, ‘No, that’s no good. We shouldn’t have given you the license in the first place,’” O’Connor recalled. “They just canceled my license right then and there.”
Struggles to prove citizenship
Despite his extensive documentation, including military discharge forms listing him as American, a social security card, and retirement benefits, O’Connor now faces significant hurdles. Without a state-approved license, he cannot drive, fly, or vote in the upcoming elections. This has already impacted his life, causing him to cancel a planned trip to Vermont.
O’Connor’s wife, Jean, expressed her frustration, saying, “I am flabbergasted. I am outraged that, at 77 years old, he is now considered a non-citizen by the country that he has lived in his whole life.” Social media users have also reacted strongly, calling the treatment of O’Connor “messed up” and “ridiculous.”