You may remember a few of my posts about Rebecca Trimble and her fight for US citizenship. Rebecca was adopted as an infant from Mexico and raised in Washington state. Her parents never secured legal status for her as a US citizen–that is, they didn’t file the legal paperwork required in international adoption, a multi-step process that culminates in obtaining a Certificate of Citizenship.
Only when Rebecca applied for a marriage license in 2012 did she learn she lacked the right papers and was subject to deportation. Years of legal battles ensued, as well as a New York Times article that raised awareness, scores of letters in support of Rebecca sent to Congress and the Senate, and a GoFundMe that raised some $25,000 to defray costs of an immigration attorney.
As we know, adoptees who are children of US citizens deserve US citizenship. But certain protocols must be followed to receive citizen status, as too many learn too late. (Note: if you haven’t secured a Certificate of Citizenship to prove citizenship, you need to drop everything else and do that ASAP).
I’ve been following the case and am on the GoFundMe email list. Today I received an update from Rebecca’s husband, John, a military dentist, who lives with Rebecca and their two sons in Alaska. After many years of relentless lobbying, Rebecca’s request for permanent residency has been granted, included in a bill signed into law by President Biden. Great news!
For everyone who wrote a letter, prayed, sent positive thoughts or a donation, good work! A positive outcome to end 2022.
And my original posts from 2020:
Another adoptee in danger of deportation