Call Congress: Be a Champion for Adoptee Citizenship
Your Member of Congress
In 1979, Adam Crapser arrived in the United States as a Korean adoptee – but his dream of a better life in the United States quickly became a nightmare. First adopted by a Michigan family that physically abused him, in 1986 Adam found himself separated from his sister, “rehomed” in the foster system, and without completed naturalization papers – a paperwork task that his adoptive parents failed to complete when they adopted him and his sister.
One year into life in a group home, Adam was adopted the by Thomas and Dolly-Jean Crapser in Oregon who – along with their biological children – subjected Adam to unspeakable physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and torture. Four long years later, the Crapsers were arrested, charged, and plead guilty to multiple counts of child abuse, child sex abuse, and child rape.
Adam, now a husband and father focused on living a healthy, productive life, could be forced to leave the only country he has ever known. In January, the Department of Homeland Security slapped him with deportation papers. Even worse, Adam isn’t the only adoptee who could be facing deportation because a parent or legal guardian’s failure to complete naturalization papers.
But there is a way to fix this problem: By amending the Child Citizenship Act (CCA) of 2000 to grant retroactive citizenship to all international adoptees, including those who were already legal adults at the time the original act passed 15 years ago.
The amendment would cover Adam and completely halt his deportation proceedings. It will also cover international adoptees who, due to the negligence on the part of their adoptive families and adoption agencies, find themselves unable to obtain jobs, open bank accounts, get drivers licenses, etc., because they were never naturalized.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) have already agreed to co-sponsor the amendment. Other lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have privately expressed their support as well. But in order to pass the amendment, we need even more Members of Congress to step up and champion the cause of adoptees who have fallen through this loophole.
We’re calling on every Member of Congress to stand up for Adam and adoptees just like him. And we need you to call your Member of Congress to urge them to pass the amendment to the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.
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To:
Your Member of Congress
From:
[Your Name]
In 1979, Adam Crapser arrived in the United States as a Korean adoptee – but his dream of a better life in the United States quickly became a nightmare. First adopted by a Michigan family that physically abused him, in 1986 Adam found himself separated from his sister, “rehomed” in the foster system, and without completed naturalization papers – a paperwork task that his adoptive parents failed to complete when they adopted him and his sister.
One year into life in a group home, Adam was adopted the by Thomas and Dolly-Jean Crapser in Oregon who – along with their biological children – subjected Adam to unspeakable physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and torture. Four long years later, the Crapsers were arrested, charged, and plead guilty to multiple counts of child abuse, child sex abuse, and child rape.
Adam, now a husband and father focused on living a healthy, productive life, could be forced to leave the only country he has ever known. In January, the Department of Homeland Security slapped him with deportation papers. Even worse, Adam isn’t the only adoptee who could be facing deportation because a parent or legal guardian’s failure to complete naturalization papers.
But there is a way to fix this problem: By amending the Child Citizenship Act (CCA) of 2000 to grant retroactive citizenship to all international adoptees, including those who were already legal adults at the time the original act passed 15 years ago.
The amendment would cover Adam and completely halt his deportation proceedings. It will also cover international adoptees who, due to the negligence on the part of their adoptive families and adoption agencies, find themselves unable to obtain jobs, open bank accounts, get drivers licenses, etc., because they were never naturalized.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) have already agreed to co-sponsor the amendment. Other lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have privately expressed their support as well. But in order to pass the amendment, we need even more Members of Congress to step up and champion the cause of undocumented adoptees.
We’re calling on every Member of Congress to stand up for Adam and adoptees just like him. And we need you to call your Member of Congress to urge them to pass the amendment to the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.