The family association is considered one of the most human and complex stories, as many seek hope in the face of identity and belonging challenges. In this article, we tell the story of “Buttons” and “Joy,” two women who grew up under American military families and childhood dreams, only to discover in adulthood that the promise of American citizenship was not fulfilled for them. Through their personal experiences, we highlight the legal gaps that have been left unaddressed by Congress, making them vulnerable to deportation despite belonging to the United States since childhood. We will explore how a single document can jeopardize an entire life journey, in addition to efforts made to pass laws that guarantee the legal identity of individuals adopted from other countries, in a state of contradiction between the fundamental values of the state and the fate of individuals who reflect those values.
Issues of Adopted Citizens and Their Impact on Individual Lives
The issues of citizenship rights intersect with the identities of adopted individuals in the United States, as there are thousands of people who were born in other countries and adopted by American families. Although they often feel a part of American society, they can face a bitter reality when they discover that they are not American citizens. Identity and citizenship problems are central themes highlighted in this case. For example, “Buttons,” who was adopted from Iran, recounts how she lived her whole life in the United States, but without any official confirmation of her citizenship. This situation reflects the plight of millions of adoptees who, despite being raised in loving American families, are forced to live under the threat of expulsion or deportation.
The Legal Complexities and Procedures Behind International Adoption
The complex laws and procedures surrounding international adoption in the United States starkly reflect the major problem faced by adoptees. Although these children are legally adopted by American families, many do not automatically become citizens. The laws were established after the Korean War when there was a flow of American families wishing to adopt children. However, amidst these processes, the issue of legal registration for citizenship was overlooked. The unclear legal status has led many adoptees to live under anxiety, as they were uncertain about their status, and in some cases, only realized it when applying for a passport or even when attempting to obtain social security.
The Psychological and Social Challenges of Unsupported Adoptees
Their case addresses many psychological and social aspects that adoptees face. Those who do not possess official identification documents or experiences with government authorities encounter feelings of fear and anxiety daily. For example, “Buttons” expresses her fear of potential deportation to a country she has not lived in since childhood. This situation is not unique; many others in her position fear interacting with government entities due to their unclear legal status. This feeling of insecurity brings negative impacts on mental health, as many individuals suffer from anxiety and depression due to this situation. New experiences can lead to adverse effects on mental health, and appropriate psychological help may be overlooked by institutions.
Efforts to Rectify the Legal Situation
Cases like “Buttons” and “Joy Alessi” are not isolated; a series of campaigns have begun to gather adoptees facing similar problems and work towards achieving their rights. Campaigns like the “Adoptee Rights Campaign” have emerged to urge lawmakers to amend existing laws and clarify the legal status of adoptees. These campaigns have faced significant challenges but have succeeded in shedding light on ongoing legal issues. They work to gather support from all political sides, including conservative and progressive communities, highlighting that this issue is not confined to a political ideology but is a humanitarian concern that requires acknowledgment of the rights of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Stories
Humanity and Personal Experiences at the Heart of Legal Issues
The stories of adoptees reveal that these individuals have lost access to the most basic rights of citizenship while undergoing painful human experiences. The story of Adam Kreiber, who was deported from the United States to Korea as an adult, highlights a new reality in which he knows neither the language nor the traditions. These stories are not merely individual cases; they reflect a larger system that leaves adoptees in a state of confusion and instability. Many adoptees affirm that they have experienced harsh situations that have led to psychological crises due to the loss of identity and a sense of belonging. It requires greater awareness from society and the government to create real change that ensures the rights of adoptees and improves their legal standing.
The Pain of Statelessness and Adoption
Many personal stories from adoptees point to the profound impact of lacking citizenship, as they live in a state of internal conflict between joy for their friends’ successes and their own struggles. The narrative expresses a deep sense of guilt and psychological burden, as many adoptees live in a state of uncertainty, lost in the battle for identity between their country of origin and the country they consider home. In Buttons’ case, the happiness of one of her friends was accompanied by deep sadness over her own situation, highlighting how unresolved legal issues related to adoption can lead to complex emotions. Some choices based on visa papers may leave adoptees in a confusing legal situation, causing many of them to question their right to belong.
It is essential to consider how some adoptive parents have not thought about the legal responsibilities resulting from adopting foreign children. As mentioned in the story, there are cases where parents opted for rapid visas, such as tourism or medical visas, without realizing the legal obstacles that might arise in the future. Legal documentation here is a critical element; one document can lead to a life filled with legal obstacles and painful experiences for adopted children, a tragic reality that requires the public and legislators to work on finding solutions for improvement and increased support for adoptive families.
Collective Failure in the Adoption System
The story illustrates how many adoptees faced legal losses due to the failures of the system that adopted them. Although the U.S. Congress recognized the seriousness of the adoptee situation over a quarter of a century ago, the past has not been adequately addressed; many families did not follow the necessary procedures to confirm citizenship. This failure is not only due to the families of the adoptees but also includes the agencies responsible for adoption and the government, which had weak oversight of the processes. The realities of adoption at that time reflected a state of chaos, leaving many children and parents in difficult positions.
Attorney Greg Lucs points out that the situation was akin to “the Wild West”, where there were no standard procedures requiring parents to confirm citizenship. This means that many adopted children later found themselves with unstable familial ties, caught between states that regard them as accepted children but without legal rights as biological children. The alarming dimensions of this failure escalate when adoptees are excluded from equal treatment in the legal system, significantly impacting their lives and potentially leading to serious consequences if they make mistakes, just like biological children.
Challenges of Legal Documentation
The discussion touches on the importance of documenting adoption and obtaining citizenship, as these issues have become central to the futures of many adoptees. Procedures followed since 2000 indicate that U.S. law has been more focused on facilitating the process for parents rather than supporting the adoptees. This has placed many adoptees in a complex legal situation; thousands of adopted individuals were arbitrarily excluded from eligibility before a certain date, meaning that many people lived with American families without ever being aware of their unique legal status. This situation embodies a human rights violation and puts the lives of many at risk.
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The conflicts surrounding legal documentation have profound effects on personal life and identity. In the case of Mike Davis, for example, it reveals how the effects can be deep and painful, as he was unaware that his legal status was uncertain until disasters struck. The suffering of families facing challenges due to citizenship issues underscores the importance of addressing these matters and exploring legislation capable of granting citizenship rights to all adoptees. All of this reflects the urgent need to unify efforts to expand the legal protection of adopted children and elevate and strengthen their voices in society.
The Struggle for Justice and Assistance
There are several organizations and individuals striving to achieve justice for adoptees, but challenges remain due to the volatile political situation in the country. Some individuals, such as Hannah Daniel, seek to improve the legal circumstances for adoptees, but the prevailing laws surrounded by racial and political classifications hinder the efforts being made. Daniel described the situation as one of jumping over political barriers, while legal adoption issues are seen as part of the broader discussion about immigration.
There needs to be a shared political will from everyone, from legislators to various organizations, aimed at addressing the challenges faced by adoptees. For instance, the American community needs to consider that families consisting of adoption deserve the same recognition and rights as biological families. The existence of organizations providing legal support for adoptees is a positive step toward achieving justice. There should also be collective calls to expand laws to enable adoptees to realize their rights to participation and citizenship.
Challenges Families Face in Obtaining Citizenship
Families adopting children from other countries face complex challenges regarding citizenship, especially amid political uncertainty around immigration issues. Rowa, a service attorney, represents adoptive families free of charge and emphasizes that the situation should not be like a “game of chance.” Rowa poses a critical question to every adopted child about their citizenship status, as discovering children’s legal situation can be extremely complicated. Sometimes, this inquiry may raise deep anxiety, as reporting their status to the government could lead to reporting their illegal presence.
The case of the Adept family illustrates the traumatic transformations they experienced after adopting two children from a Romanian orphanage in the 1990s. The adoption scenario exemplifies what makes many families anxious and tense regarding the future of their children, who may feel they are not part of society. This feeling reflects a sense of despair among families, especially amid their ongoing fear of deportation. Ms. “Debbie” recounts her strong feelings and need for her children to enjoy an education and civil benefits like any other child.
The same emotions are echoed among many families, as many describe how they lived in a whirlwind of anxiety and constant searching for ways to improve their children’s legal status. When they hear political statements about mass deportations, fear deepens. The interaction of families with complex laws embodies the urgent need to change these policies to achieve justice for their children who need protection.
The Issue of Identity and Belonging for Adopted Children
The suffering of adopted children is manifested in the concept of identity and belonging. “Joy,” an American citizen by adoption, expresses her internal struggle as a proud citizen, but feelings of uncertainty accompany her due to not meeting citizenship requirements. She speaks of her time in the service in the U.S. Navy, where she felt a sense of belonging, but she did not hold citizenship yet.
Identity for these individuals goes beyond mere legal documents; it relates to the concept of self-identity. Despite being raised in different places and with different families, their feeling of being part of this community is a shared experience. When communicating with friends, “Joy” reveals her sense of connection as she asks “Leah,” who obtained citizenship, about her feelings as an American, leading to a deep discussion about the meaning of identity.
Struggles
Identity is also faced by families who have adopted children from different countries, as children feel they belong to two different worlds, which sometimes makes them feel a sense of separation. This struggle for self-understanding and belonging to family and community is part of the experience of every adopted individual, which complicates issues of citizenship and current immigration policies.
Current Policies and Their Impact on Adoptive Families
Adoptive families live in a state of uncertainty due to current immigration-related policies. Political statements regarding mass deportations and restrictions on citizenship significantly affect families who rely on children from outside the country. The case of “Debbie” and her husband “Paul” reflects how families can turn into powerful emotional narratives, as families demand that their children enjoy the same privileges as their biological children.
The loss of a child under harsh circumstances in detention centers has left a deep impact on families. The narratives referenced by many parents include repeated appeals to politicians to reform the laws. On the other hand, the stories of mothers like “Debbie” provide painful glimpses into the suffering of parents in their quest for their children’s rights, calling on the government to take serious action to address complex laws.
Despite the exhaustion and suffering, the fighting spirit remains present in their stories. The discussion of these issues continues in the community, reflecting the urgent needs of families for communication with legislators about the importance of initiatives aimed at expediting adoption and naturalization processes. Stories related to confronting citizenship challenges represent an integral part of modern American history, reflecting the ongoing struggle for rights and equality for children who have transitioned from harsh conditions to loving families.
Source link: https://apnews.com/article/adoption-citizenship-immigration-congress-0c71631786c35f7042ff99726e9dcd23
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