Intercountry Adoptees Facing Deportation Over Citizenship Issues

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Key Takeaways

Thousands of intercountry adoptees in the U.S. face deportation due to lack of automatic citizenship previously assumed.
The Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2024 aims to grant citizenship regardless of age, addressing previous legal gaps.
Advocacy and legislative efforts seek to secure adoptees’ citizenship, balancing legal oversight with moral obligations.

The issue facing thousands of intercountry adoptees in the United States 🇺🇸, who are threatened with deportation due to not having citizenship, is both serious and pressing. Many of these individuals were adopted by American families and have lived in the country for decades, only to find out that they lack the citizenship that was presumed to be automatic. This troubling situation arises from long-standing bureaucratic slip-ups and legal loopholes.

Historically, the issue goes back to the mid-20th century when intercountry adoption became more common, especially after the Korean War. American families, hoping to offer these children a better future, often believed that U.S. citizenship came automatically for their adopted children. Yet, before the Child Citizenship Act (CCA) of 2000, parents needed to go through a separate naturalization process to secure status for their children. The CCA aimed to automatically grant citizenship to adoptees who were under 18 years of age at that time. However, it left out those who were older, creating a loophole impacting tens of thousands.

Intercountry Adoptees Facing Deportation Over Citizenship Issues

It’s estimated that this oversight affects between 15,000 and 75,000 adoptees. Many discover their lack of citizenship when trying to access government benefits or apply for a passport. Without citizenship, these individuals struggle with accessing social services, securing employment, obtaining driver’s licenses, and, worst of all, the looming threat of deportation, especially if they have a criminal record.

The fear of being deported is a constant worry. Some adoptees live in hiding, afraid that any contact with authorities might lead to being forced out of the U.S., a place they have called home for most of their lives.

Efforts to fix this issue have been ongoing. The Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2024 (ACA2024) is the latest legislative measure aimed at addressing this problem. Introduced by a bipartisan group in Congress, the bill intends to grant U.S. citizenship to all intercountry adoptees who came as children but were missed due to the age limitations in previous laws. The ACA2024 wants to ensure automatic citizenship regardless of the adoptee’s age during adoption or at present, so long as they meet specific criteria such as having been lawfully admitted to the U.S. and living with their adoptive parents.

Additionally, the ACA2024 proposes a path for adoptees who were deported due to this lack of citizenship to return to the U.S. Despite substantial support from both political parties, passing this bill remains tough. Immigration topics are often divisive in U.S. politics, and any immigration-related proposal undergoes intense scrutiny and discussion. Some lawmakers hesitate to back measures seen as too lenient, even when they concern individuals legally adopted by American families.

There is also resistance based on giving citizenship to those with criminal records. Critics worry that such a precedent might affect other immigration situations. However, supporters argue that these adoptees are legally American children who shouldn’t be punished for mistakes made by their adoptive parents or adoption agencies decades ago.

The human side of this issue is deeply moving. Many adoptees share stories of living in fear and uncertainty even though they’ve built their lives in America. Adam Crapser’s case is often cited; he was deported to South Korea 🇰🇷 after his adoptive parents didn’t secure his citizenship, highlighting significant failures in both U.S. and South Korea’s adoption systems.

Advocacy groups like Adoptees for Justice work tirelessly to promote legislative change and raise awareness about the challenges these adoptees face. They insist that solving this issue goes beyond immigration laws—it’s about keeping promises to children adopted into American families.

The challenges faced by intercountry adoptees in the U.S. are a challenging mix of legal oversight and political inaction. Legislative initiatives like the Adoptee Citizenship Act offer hope, but continuous advocacy and public involvement are crucial for ensuring these individuals gain the rights and recognition they deserve as part of American society.

This journey toward securing citizenship for these adoptees presents broader issues in immigration policy—finding the balance between security and compassion while acknowledging the unique circumstances that brought these individuals to American homes. As discussions persist, it is vital for lawmakers to consider both legal responsibilities and moral obligations in resolving this longstanding issue. According to VisaVerge.com’s investigation, understanding such complex immigration topics plays a significant role in shaping sound and fair policies.

For more official information and updates related to U.S. immigration and citizenship processes, visiting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will provide authoritative resources and guidance.

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Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2024 (ACA2024): Proposed legislation to grant U.S. citizenship to intercountry adoptees missing from previous laws due to age limitations.
Child Citizenship Act (CCA): A 2000 law granting automatic U.S. citizenship to certain foreign-born adoptees under 18 years at that time.
Naturalization Process: Legal procedure through which a non-citizen becomes a citizen after meeting specific residency and legal requirements.
Deportation: Forced removal of a person from a country due to legal status violations or criminal activity.
Legislative Measure: A proposed law presented for debate and approval by a legislative body.

This Article in a Nutshell

Thousands of intercountry adoptees face deportation due to citizenship oversights. Adopted decades ago, they believed they were citizens. The Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2024 seeks to correct this, aiming to grant citizenship regardless of age. Advocacy continues, urging Congress to fulfill the promise made to these individuals and secure their futures.
— By VisaVerge.com