About
Spencer Bailey is a public interest attorney and freelance journalist based in Denver, Colorado.
Published Work
The ‘unregistered Americans’: because of their parents, they do not exist
Hundreds in the US have no birth certificate or Social Security number. Some covet this ‘off-grid’ status – but it means being barred from ordinary life.
The Guardian (April 2026)
Why Does This State Agency Almost Never Find Probable Cause in Workplace Discrimination Cases?
At the Colorado Civil Rights Division, closing cases might be more important than protecting civil rights.
5280 (February 2026)
Abigail Colón doesn’t have a birth certificate, which means she can't drive, get married, or sign up for health insurance. Everyone agrees she was born in Colorado—so why won’t the state give her documentation?
5280 (August 2025)