Life Without Citizenship

[Anchor Lead]

Among the thousands of Korean adoptees in the US, there are some who were never granted citizenship and live in fear of being deported. Without citizenship, they are not recognized as fully American. This is their story.

[Pkg]

Joy Alessi was adopted to the United States less than a year after her birth in 1966. She lived in the States for 50 years working as a flight attendant and at other jobs but she is not an American citizen. The reason is that at the time of her adoption, she received an IR-4 visa. Foster parents of adoptees receiving this visa need to separately apply for their citizenship for them to formally become US citizens. Ms. Alessi's parents did not know this. Ms. Alessi wants to live as an American but she cannot receive a pension or any protection from the government.

[Soundbite] Joy Alessi(Adoptee from Korea)

Adam Crapser has also become a symbol of misfortune among the adoptee community in the U.S. He overcame abuse from his adoptive parents, getting married to form his own family, but he was deported late last year over a minor offense.

[Soundbite] Adam Crapser(Apr. 2015)

Having nowhere to go in Korea, Mr. Crapser is currently staying at an adoption agency in Seoul. He strives to live on thinking of his children back in the States. The law was revised in the U.S. in 2001 to automatically grant citizenship to children under 18, but adoptees 19 and older were excluded. Those who failed to acquire citizenship struggle with frustration and anxiety.

[Soundbite] Ave Giorgio(Adoptee from Korea, Civic activist)

Some 20-thousand Korean adoptees in the U.S. have not been granted American citizenship. Their lives have been even more challenging under the Trump administration as they fear being deported if they're caught for even a minor misdemeanor amid tightened immigration control.