DeepSummary
The episode features the story of Robin Whiteley, a man adopted from Mexico as a baby by American parents but was deported back to Mexico in his late 20s due to a drug conviction. It explores the legal complexities around citizenship for international adoptees, as many were not automatically granted U.S. citizenship depending on their year of birth and other factors.
Robin shares his struggles living in a small Mexican town just across the U.S. border, separated from his American family and unable to cross due to his deportation. A provision called the Adoptee Citizenship Act within a larger congressional bill could grant him and thousands of others in similar situations automatic U.S. citizenship, but its passage remains uncertain.
The episode also draws parallels between adoptees like Robin and Dreamers - children brought to the U.S. illegally by immigrant parents - in their lack of clear legal status and citizenship path. It examines the societal factors, including racial biases, that lead to differing levels of public sympathy for the two groups.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Many international adoptees raised in the U.S. were never granted automatic citizenship due to legal loopholes and lack of clear policies.
- Adoptee Robin Whiteley, deported back to Mexico despite living most of his life in the U.S., struggles to reunite with his American family.
- The Adoptee Citizenship Act proposes granting citizenship to these adoptees, but its passage remains uncertain amidst immigration politics.
- While sharing some circumstances, adoptees tend to receive more public sympathy than 'Dreamers' brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
- Societal biases view adoptees as perpetual children and favor legal relief for minors over adults facing deportation.
- The episode highlights complexities around immigration policies struggling to adapt to evolving adoption trends.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “So far, so close, but so far away.“ by Robin Whiteley
- “Even though it doesn't love me, I still love the United States.“ by Robin Whiteley
- “I don't think you can take somebody from their country and throw them into a country and just expect them to say, oh, okay, let me just start my life brand new at age 40, age 30, age 35.“ by Robin Whiteley
- “And in many respects, we don't care about adopted people once they're not children.“ by Greg Luce
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NPR
6/29/22
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