EACH

Today, to celebrate the Anniversary of Hung Kings, the reason our civil servants in Vietnam are enjoying a day off, I thought that instead of focusing on the number of days I’ve been waiting for I-600 approval (very, very many) I’d write about an adoption-related website I happened to view a few days ago.  The organization is called EACH, which stands for Equality for Adopted Children.  It’s an advocacy group focused on the right of adopted children to be treated under law the very same as bio children.  My favorite aspect of one piece of legislation EACH is backing (the Natural Born Citizen Act) is defining the term natural born Citizen, which is used multiple times in the Constitution, to include any person adopted by the age of 18 by a U.S. citizen parent or parents who are eligible to transmit citizenship to a biological child (i.e., any of the kids we’re adopting in Vietnam would be considered natural born citizens).  Since embarking on this adoption, it’s bothered me that Oscar won’t have the same rights as other children.  This legislation would enable Oscar to run for President (not that I would want that) if he desired, which otherwise he would not be permitted to do since he was born outside the U.S.  

The founder of EACH was the author of the Child Citizenship Act, which became law on October 30, 2000. This is the law that enables our kids to become automatic U.S. citizens instead of having to be naturalized. She also helped negotiate the terms of the humanitarian effort that enabled families to bring their children home from Cambodia.  She’s done some amazing work already; I’m certain she’ll continue to do so in the future.  Check it out.

April 15, 2008 - Posted by Oscar and Etta's mom | Adoption