In today’s complex political landscape, thousands of international adoptees face uncertainty due to gaps in legal documentation. Many adoptees, brought to the U.S. as infants or young children, were legally adopted by American families but lack official recognition of their citizenship due to incomplete paperwork or outdated policies. This issue underscores the critical need to validate adoptions and secure American birth certificates for all adoptees.
Without proper documentation, these individuals may struggle to obtain passports, driver’s licenses, or even employment. In some cases, adoptees who believed they were U.S. citizens have faced deportation threats, despite having lived in the country for decades. The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 granted automatic citizenship to some adoptees, but gaps remain for those who were adopted before its passage or whose paperwork was not properly processed.
“Catholic Charities has received several phone calls from concerned parents,” states Amy Zajac, director of the agency’s Adoption Program. “Adoptees are struggling to secure driver’s licenses because they do not have the proper documentation, a U.S. birth certificate. While their adoptions are legal and they are considered United States citizens under the Citizenship Act of 2000, the U.S. government will only recognize a birth certificate from this country.”
As immigration policies become stricter, the need for legal clarity is more urgent than ever. Advocacy groups are pushing for legislative solutions, such as the Adoptee Citizenship Act, to grant retroactive citizenship to all legally adopted international children. Ensuring that all adoptees receive American birth certificates and validated citizenship status is not just a legal necessity—it is a moral imperative to recognize them as full and rightful members of society.
Zajac notes, “Many parents are worried about how new immigration policies will impact their children; especially if they do not have a U.S. birth certificate. It is vital that these families work with their local probate courts to validate the adoptions, which will lead to the processing of an American birth certificate.”
Policymakers and adoptive families must work together to close these gaps and protect the rights of international adoptees. Without decisive action, thousands remain in legal limbo, unable to fully participate in the country they have always called home.
If you need guidance on validating an International Adoption and securing a U.S. Birth Certificate, please contact Amy Zajac, [email protected].
For more information on Catholic Charities, visit www.ccfairfield.org.