August 2020

A while ago, I posted about the plight of Rebecca Trimble, an adoptee who lacks correct papers and is in danger of being deported. She lives in Alaska. Her husband, John Trimble, has set up a GoFundMe for legal fees, to which some of you may have contributed. To date, the Trimbles have reached and surpassed their goal.

Now the Trimbles are asking for letters of support for Rebecca’s case, to be sent to Representatives and Senators in states across the US. Alaska Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski introduced a private bill for Rebecca’s relief to the Senate in March, and more recently, Representative Don Young introduced a companion bill to the House of Representatives.

On their GoFundMe page, John Trimble writes: “We are still in need of letters, emails, and phone calls in support of private bills S.3490 (senate bill) and H.R.7807 (house bill) directed to the Senators and House of Representative members in every state except for Alaska.”

To contact your Rep or Senator is easy. If you’re not sure who they are, search for your town or district + Congressional Rep or Senator. Go to their contact page. Fill in your name, address etc. and paste in your letter. My letter is below. Please feel free to use or modify, and send to anyone else who may be able to help.

Re: REBECCA TRIMBLE ADOPTION / S. 3490 and H.R. 7807

Dear [NAME OF SENATOR OR CONGRESSPERSON]:I am writing to request that you co-sponsor and work toward the enactment of S. 3490 [or H.R. 7807], A Bill for the Relief of Rebecca Trimble. The bill is sponsored by Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Representative Don Young.

Rebecca Trimble was adopted as an infant from Mexico some 30 years ago and only recently discovered her adoptive parents failed to secure for her the paperwork necessary to secure citizenship. I myself am an adoptive mother of two and the plight of adopted persons who lack papers is close to my heart. Adoptees are children of US citizens and deserve equal rights of citizenship.

Rebecca Trimble spent her entire life believing she was an American citizen. A mother of two American citizens, married to an American military veteran who is a dentist for underserved populations in Alaska, Rebecca works as head chef for her church’s Supper Club for the Homeless.

A recent New York Times article brought Rebecca’s plight to my attention. Thankfully, Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan have introduced S. 3490 and Representative Don Young has introduced H.R. 7807 to bring a positive resolution to her situation. [SENATOR OR CONGRESSPERSON’S NAME], you have the ability to correct this instance of injustice by co-sponsoring and working towards passage of these bill. As a citizen and resident of [YOUR TOWN, STATE], I respectfully request that you do so.

Thank you for your consideration.

Photo credit: Adoptees for Justice website