Black Citizen Accused Of Illegal Standing Loses SSI Advantages

[ad_1] by Kandiss Edwards February 21, 2026

Ramona Rakestra is combating for the return of her Supplemental Safety Earnings after the federal government claimed she shouldn't be a natural-born citizen.

A Dallas girl, Ramona Rakestraw, is combating for the return of her Supplemental Safety Earnings (SSI) after the federal government claimed she shouldn't be a natural-born citizen.

Rakestraw, who's battling most cancers and kidney illness, says the federal authorities wrongly stopped her SSI after questioning her U.S. citizenship. Rakestraw is a lifelong Texan who mentioned she relied on SSI funds as her major supply of earnings whereas present process therapy for kidney illness and most cancers.

Rakestraw’s advantages have been abruptly halted in October 2025 after the Social Safety Administration knowledgeable her that her immigration standing was beneath evaluate, she informed Fox 4. Nevertheless, the Dallas resident says she was born at Parkland Hospital in Dallas and has by no means lived outdoors america. Moreover, the 59-year-old asserts she has by no means even left Dallas County.

“I’m not an immigrant,” she mentioned. “I’ve by no means even left Dallas County — not to mention the nation.”

59-year-old Ramona Rakestraw says her SSI was stopped after her immigration standing was “beneath evaluate," regardless of reportedly by no means leaving the U.S. When a Dallas-born resident battling kidney illness and most cancers is informed she is “not lawfully current,” one thing is deeply flawed! Nobody… pic.twitter.com/b54PLfS0NW

— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) February 21, 2026

In a letter to Rakestraw, the SSI administration wrote, “We can not pay you advantages as a result of you aren't lawfully current within the U.S.” Rakestraw offered her beginning certificates and authorities identification to SSA representatives at an area workplace as a part of her effort to resolve the problem.

In her early 20s, Rakestraw battled kidney illness, which led to her receiving a transplant. She has been depending on advantages since. Earlier than her citizenship was in query, she obtained each Social Safety and Medicaid Half B advantages. Whereas her Medicare Half B was later restored, the SSI funds remained stopped.

After Rakestraw spoke to Fox 4, the outlet reached out to the SSI administration. As a result of privateness issues, no data was given about her particular grievance, although staff mentioned they'd attain out to her concerning the matter. Subsequently, it was reported that Rakestraw’s advantages would resume, although there isn't any phrase on why they have been denied within the first place.

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