[Spring Summit] Human or Alien? The Long, Difficult, and Troubling Road for Intercountry Adoptees and US Citizenship

Audience: All Caregivers (Adoptive, Foster & Kinship Parents)

Level: Intermediate
Ages addressed: All Ages

PLEASE NOTE: To receive a certificate of attendance for the live webinar, attendees must register individually, attend the entire training, and watch from their own device to ensure proper tracking.

In 2004, at the peak of intercountry adoption to the United States, nearly 23,000 foreign-born children entered the U.S. on immigrant "orphan" visas. That year marked the high point of intercountry adoption before a rather quick and steep decline. The number of intercountry adoptions fell from 23,000 in 2004 to approximately 1,300 in fiscal year 2023, and it continues to decline today.

During these twenty years, however, more than 187,000 children immigrated to the United States as intercountry adoptees, and nearly 50,000 of these children required a finalized state court adoption to secure U.S. citizenship. Without a full and final adoption in state court, these children would not become U.S. citizens and, at age 18, would age into society with a far more difficult task to secure citizenship. Many of these and other adoptees are now young adults, or are close to reaching adulthood. And for these youth, as well any intercountry adoptees who have entered state care as children, their road toward independence may be difficult, especially if U.S. citizenship has not been secured before they age out of that care.

This presentation discusses the history of US citizenship for intercountry adoptees as well as present-day citizenship and immigration issues that intercountry adoptees continue to encounter. It outlines the issues that make an intercountry adopted person vulnerable for immigration issues and further discusses what state and care workers should know about citizenship and immigration for underage youth in care. Finally, the presentation will present solutions to various problems surrounding citizenship for intercountry adoptees, including federal legislation that could ultimately solve the issue. Practical tips and resources will be also provided.

Register Here