Thousands of adoptees find themselves in a legal limbo without citizenship in the United States. The issue stems from loopholes in American law that have left many children adopted from abroad by American families without citizenship. Despite being brought to the US through legal adoption processes, these individuals are technically living in the country illegally and are at risk of deportation.
One adoptee, known by the childhood nickname Buttons due to her legal status, shares her story as a 2-year-old adopted from Iran by an American family in 1972. Although raised in the US and taught to believe she was American, she discovered as an adult that she lacks citizenship. The lack of citizenship means these adoptees face challenges such as difficulty in obtaining jobs, driver’s licenses, passports, and even basic government interactions.
Over the years, various advocacy groups, including the Adoptee Rights Campaign, have been working towards resolving this issue. The campaign estimates that there could be anywhere between 15,000 to 75,000 adoptees in the US without citizenship. Adoptees from countries like South Korea, Ethiopia, Romania, and Belize have been affected by this oversight in American immigration law.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 was a step towards addressing this issue by granting automatic citizenship to adopted children, but it left out those born before February 27, 1983. Efforts have been made to pass legislation that would extend citizenship to all legally adopted individuals, but challenges persist due to political gridlock and concerns over immigration policies. Adoptees like Buttons continue to live with uncertainty and fear, despite their contribution to American society.
In the face of these challenges, adoptees like Buttons, Joy Alessi, and Leah Elmquist are advocating for their rights and fighting for recognition as full citizens of the country they have called home for most of their lives. Their stories highlight the complexities and injustices faced by adoptees caught in legal and bureaucratic loopholes, sparking a much-needed conversation around immigration policies and the rights of those who have been failed by the system.