Hi anthony,
Imagine finding out as an adult that you are not a U.S. citizen after believing for your whole life that you were. That’s the story of tens of thousands of our adopted family members, partners, and friends who could be DEPORTED because the process failed them.
There are over 18,600 Korean American adoptees, alone, who do not have American citizenship. [1]
Tell Congress to SUPPORT the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2019 and grant automatic citizenship for adoptees.
Over 500,000 children have been adopted from abroad by American families since the end of World War II. They were to be adopted into a new family and receive citizenship, but many never had their citizenship applications processed.
Kris, a Vietnamese American adoptee, was one of the 2,500 children brought by U.S. military led Operation Babylift to the U.S. for adoption. [2] Kris’ adoptive parents did not know that his citizenship application was never processed and believed he was a U.S. citizen.
Now an adult, Kris faces barriers to gainful employment and cannot access social security and other social benefits when he retires. He worries about being deported to Vietnam, a country where he does not know the language or culture and has no known family.
Passing the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2019 will grant automatic citizenship for adoptees, with no bar on those who have been deported. It covers all qualifying international adoptees adopted by a U.S. citizen parent, regardless of the date when the adoption was finalized.
Over 35 adoptees have already been deported and forcibly separated from their families. No more broken promises. Adoptees deserve to be here with their families.
Tell your House Representative to end adoptee deportations by supporting the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2019.
In solidarity,
Laura, Turner, Cayden, Bianca, Taz, Liz and Sumi -- The 18MR Team
P.S. Wanna celebrate Asian American activism in style? It's our 7th birthday and we have something pretty exciting to share with you.
[1] https://adopteesforjustice.org/campaigns
[2] https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/after-the-vietnam-war-america-flew-planes-full-of-babies-back-to-the-us
