Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was adopted by a US family in 1966, after being left in an orphanage in South Korea by her birthmother. For decades, she lived her life as a typical American until a trip to the Social Security office in 2012 revealed a shocking truth: she was never granted citizenship.
She is one of many adoptees facing similar situations, with estimates suggesting that between 18,000 and 75,000 American adoptees lack citizenship. Some, like an Iranian woman adopted in 1973, only discovered their vulnerable status when applying for a passport, leading to feelings of erasure and identity crises.
For years, court-sanctioned adoptions did not guarantee automatic citizenship in the US, leaving many in limbo. The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 offered hope but only for future adoptees, leaving those who arrived before then without legal status.
The situation is growing more dire as political landscapes shift. With the recent return of Donald Trump to the White House, fears of deportation are amplifying. Adoptee rights groups report increased requests for help, with many adoptees expressing their pain and fear of being forcibly removed from a country they've always called home.
Activists stress that these individuals should be recognized as American citizens by law and advocate for legislative fixes to grant equal rights to adoptees. As Shirley and others reach out for help, their stories serve as poignant reminders of the fragility of identity and belonging in the face of legal complexities.
She is one of many adoptees facing similar situations, with estimates suggesting that between 18,000 and 75,000 American adoptees lack citizenship. Some, like an Iranian woman adopted in 1973, only discovered their vulnerable status when applying for a passport, leading to feelings of erasure and identity crises.
For years, court-sanctioned adoptions did not guarantee automatic citizenship in the US, leaving many in limbo. The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 offered hope but only for future adoptees, leaving those who arrived before then without legal status.
The situation is growing more dire as political landscapes shift. With the recent return of Donald Trump to the White House, fears of deportation are amplifying. Adoptee rights groups report increased requests for help, with many adoptees expressing their pain and fear of being forcibly removed from a country they've always called home.
Activists stress that these individuals should be recognized as American citizens by law and advocate for legislative fixes to grant equal rights to adoptees. As Shirley and others reach out for help, their stories serve as poignant reminders of the fragility of identity and belonging in the face of legal complexities.
