Congress OKs Giving Automatic Citizenship to Foreign Adoptees

Children adopted from abroad and other foreign-born children of American parents will receive automatic U. S. citizenship under legislation Congress has passed and sent to the president.

The legislation, which passed the House last month and the Senate late Thursday, would confer automatic and retroactive citizenship on all foreign-born children who are under the age of 18, admitted to the United States as lawful permanent residents, and are in the legal and physical custody of at least one parent who is a U. S. citizen.

“After what these parents have been through in bringing their children to the United States, the naturalization process is an extra burden they shouldn’t have to bear,” said Rep. William D. Delahunt (D-Mass.), a chief sponsor.

“More than 15,000 foreign-born children are adopted by U. S. families every year,” said Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.), a Senate sponsor. “They shouldn’t be buried under a mountain of red tape.”

John Williams, president of Holt International Children’s Services, which places children with American parents, said the legislation was “one of the most significant developments in the history of intercountry adoption.”

Also, under current law, foreign-born children of U. S. citizens get U. S. citizenship after their parents present papers at a U. S. embassy. This bill would eliminate that step.

The bill is H.R. 2883.

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Congressional information:

https://thomas.loc.gov/