A Rescue Born of Service Overseas (Image Credits: Unsplash)
California – A woman who arrived in the United States as a toddler orphan from Iran, adopted and raised by a decorated Air Force veteran, now confronts an order from federal authorities to prepare for removal proceedings.[1][2]
A Rescue Born of Service Overseas
The woman’s father endured captivity as a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II, captured in 1943 and held until liberation. After retiring from the Air Force, he took a position as a government contractor in Iran. There, in 1972, he and his wife discovered the two-year-old girl in an orphanage and completed her adoption.
They brought her to America the following year. A local newspaper celebrated the family’s homecoming with a prominent feature story. Her formal adoption finalized in 1975, marking what seemed the start of a secure life. She grew up immersed in American culture, embracing Christianity and cherishing tales of her father’s wartime sacrifices.[1]
Overlooked Naturalization Leaves Her Vulnerable
At the time, adoptive parents bore the responsibility of separately naturalizing foreign-born children through immigration processes. The woman’s parents passed away without completing this step for her. She remained unaware until age 38, when a passport application revealed her non-citizen status.
Records uncovered a 1975 lawyer’s letter claiming cooperation with officials had resolved the issue. For years, she pursued remedies through the State Department, senators, and her congresswoman, Rep. Young Kim, a California Republican. Efforts yielded no resolution. Congress addressed similar cases with the 2000 Child Citizenship Act, granting automatic status to younger adoptees, but excluded those born before February 27, 1983.[3]
ICE Summons Arrives Without Warning
Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security issued a notice requiring her court appearance on March 4 for removal proceedings. Officials cited her visa overstay from March 1974, when she was four. An immigration judge postponed the hearing and excused her physical presence, easing immediate fears of detention.
She maintains no criminal record beyond a decades-old traffic stop for phone use while driving. Her career in corporate healthcare, homeownership, and tax payments reflect deep roots in California society. The Trump administration’s broad deportation push has ensnared even those without offenses. She questioned the timing, given prior federal awareness of her case since at least 2008.[1]
Danger Awaits in an Unfamiliar Iran
Deportation to Iran terrifies her, especially as a Christian perceived as a convert from Islam and daughter of a U.S. military figure. Authorities there routinely arrest such individuals, viewing them as Western-aligned threats. Prisons offer squalid conditions, with women facing heightened risks of assault and forced marriages.
Ryan Brown, CEO of Open Doors, highlighted the absence of leniency for converts. “It is assumed that you are an enemy of the state,” he stated. She speaks no Farsi, knows no customs, and left as an orphan over 50 years ago. Escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, including naval deployments, amplify the peril.[2]
- Perceived religious conversion invites arrest and possible execution.
- Family ties to U.S. military spark suspicion.
- Lack of language and cultural knowledge isolates her completely.
- Women’s prisons notorious for abuse and deprivation.
Calls Grow for Policy Reform
A diverse coalition, including the Southern Baptist Convention and immigration advocates, has long urged Congress to extend citizenship protections retroactively. Hannah Daniel, formerly with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, decried the scenario: “I’m horrified… this is an absolutely unbelievable situation.”[3]
The woman clings to her father’s legacy, gazing at his uniformed portrait for solace. “I’m proud of my father’s legacy. I’m part of his legacy,” she affirmed. “And what’s happening to me is wrong.”
Key Takeaways
- Thousands of pre-2000 international adoptees remain in citizenship limbo due to outdated rules.
- Bipartisan reform efforts persist, yet Congress has stalled on fixes.
- Deportation risks collide with U.S. values on religious freedom and veteran honors.
This case underscores a heartbreaking gap in America’s promise to its families and heroes. Will lawmakers act before more stories like hers unfold? Share your thoughts in the comments.
