Deportation Threat Looms Over Iranian Adoptee in the U.S.

A woman adopted from Iran at the age of two is facing deportation from the United States, a situation that highlights significant gaps in immigration and adoption laws. The woman, now in her 50s and residing in California, was brought to the U.S. in the early 1970s by her adoptive parents, one of whom was a U.S. Air Force officer. Despite her American upbringing, she is considered an immigrant by the U.S. government due to her visa status, which lapsed when she was a child.

NPR

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) informed her that removal proceedings have begun, citing her overstay of a tourist visa since March 1974. The woman has no criminal record and has spent years trying to rectify her legal status, believing her adoptive parents took the necessary steps to secure her citizenship. However, she discovered her citizenship had not been formalized when she applied for a passport at age 38.

The Independent

The 2000 Child Citizenship Act allows many international adoptees to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship, but it does not apply retroactively to those who were adults at the time or to those like her who entered on the wrong type of visa. Efforts to amend this law have garnered bipartisan support but have repeatedly stalled in Congress.

NPR

Critics argue that the case exemplifies a broken immigration system. Emily Howe, the woman's attorney, stated, "The sheer possibility of the daughter of an American WWII hero being sent overseas, through no fault of her own, epitomizes a broken system." Advocates for adoptees, including members of the Southern Baptist Convention and liberal immigration groups, have expressed horror at the potential deportation, emphasizing the moral implications of sending someone to a country they barely remember, especially under the current geopolitical climate.

NPR

The DHS has maintained that immigrants facing deportation "receive full due process," but has not commented specifically on this case without the woman's name. The woman’s plight has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities of many international adoptees who remain undocumented due to clerical errors or oversight by their adoptive parents.

NPR

• “I never imagined it would get to where it is today,” — Anonymous Adoptee

The Independent

• “It just baffles me that it’s OK to send me to a foreign country that I could potentially die or I could get imprisoned because of a clerical error,” — Anonymous Adoptee

The Independent

• “I fight for myself, but at the same time, I fight for my dad's legacy and what my dad wanted for me and how he prepared me for this life,” — Anonymous Adoptee

NPR

• “I’m horrified. It’s rare for me to feel shocked by a story these days. But this is an absolutely unbelievable situation,” — Hannah Daniel, Director of Public Policy, Southern Baptist Convention

The Independent

The woman’s case is scheduled to be heard by an immigration judge next month, although she will not be required to appear in person. As she navigates this uncertain legal landscape, she continues to advocate for herself and others in similar situations, hoping to resolve her status and honor her father's legacy.

The Independent