Monumental Ruling: District Judge Rules No SSN, BC, or LNR Required For Passport!

SOURCE: https://passagetoliberty.substack.com/p/monumental-ruling-district-judge

United States District Court Judge TREVOR N. McFADDEN ruled on July 29th that no Social Security Number, Birth Certificate, or Letter of No Record can be required for issuance of a passport.

Aug 18, 2025

Background

Abigail Jordan, a devout Christian, sued the U.S. Department of State for denying her a passport due to her refusing to provide a Social Security Number (SSN), birth certificate or a Letter of No Record. Her objections to the unconstitutional requirements were rooted in the fact that she believes being enumerated by a government-issued mark such as an SSN violates her faith (citing Revelation 13:16–18). Her faith also compels her to evangelize globally (Matthew 28:19–20), necessitating a passport. Yet, since 2019, Jordan faced repeated denials for not providing the “required” documentation, despite submitting alternative evidence of being a national of the United States entitled to a passport, such as her father’s affidavit and baptism records.

Obfuscated Truth

The Social Security card historically included the phrase “For Social Security Purposes–Not For Identification” on its face. This warning was included to clarify that the card is not intended to be used as official identification. This statement was explicitly displayed across the bottom of both the card and the stub until the sixth version, issued in 1983. However, the current Social Security card, as described in official SSA documentation1, no longer includes such statement, leaving those ignorant of historical facts to believe that de facto “requirements” to obtain and disclose the number are prescribed by law. Yet career employees of the Social Security Administration will still admit that no such requirement exists.

Whereas there is no law requiring one to obtain an SSN, there can be no law, as was revealed in this case, requiring an SSN in order to obtain an American passport. Though this fact is contrary to public opinion, judge McFadden’s new ruling establishes this fact into the public record.

Legal Claims

Jordan’s lawsuit claimed violations of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), 8 U.S.C. § 1503, the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and the Mandamus Act. The Department argued the case was moot after Virginia provided a Letter of No Record without Jordan’s involvement, but the court disagreed, citing ongoing harms under the voluntary cessation doctrine (Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Env’t Servs., 528 U.S. 167, 190 (2000)).

Court Findings

The court granted Jordan summary judgment on her RFRA claim, finding the Department’s requirements substantially burdened her religious exercise without a compelling justification or least restrictive means (42 U.S.C. § 2000bb-1; Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 573 U.S. 682 (2014)). Similarly, under 8 U.S.C. § 1503(a), Jordan established her U.S. citizenship, entitling her to a passport (L. Xia v. Tillerson, 865 F.3d 643, 652 (D.C. Cir. 2017)). Her APA and Mandamus claims were dismissed as moot due to adequate relief under § 1503 (5 U.S.C. § 704).

Remedy

The court ordered the Department to issue Jordan a passport immediately, rejecting additional administrative burdens as unnecessary (Gill v. Whitford, 585 U.S. 48, 68 (2018)). This ruling ensures Jordan’s religious convictions are respected without compromising her right to a passport.

Historical Significance

This ruling not only ensures that Jordan’s religious convictions are respected without compromising her right to a passport, but it culminates the third high-level legal victory by her family to exercise their rights without participating in the SSN enslavement system. Even more historically, it adds into the public record a case citation that opens the door for millions of Americans with similar beliefs get free of the confiscatory tracking pyramid scheme operated by the Social Security Administration.

More To Come

This victory marks the third high-level court victory secured by Jordan’s family as they have sued the federal government over alleged SSN requirements. You won’t want to miss our upcoming interview with David Carmichael as he describes his first lawsuit. You will be appalled at the lying, deception and dirty tricks used by the government attorneys in their attempts to overcome sound constitutional law. Be sure to check your SPAM folder for our emails.