The Mayor of the USA

Last night Christian announced that he wants to be the mayor of the whole USA when he grows up.
Me: You know there isn't a mayor of the whole USA, just one for each city or town. President Obama is kind of like the mayor of the whole USA. Why do you want that job?
C: So I can make a rule that you can have any kind of charger you want.
Me: You mean, any cell phone charger you want?
C: Yah. I would make a rule that everyone doesn't have to have the same one. (He's referring to some obscure new rule about universal cell phone charging cables going into effect next year)
Me: Well if you still want to when you grow up, you could be the President.
Papa: No, you don't want to do that. You have to sell too much of your soul to become the President. (Thanks Papa, maybe a little more "reach for the stars" next time, m'kay?)

I remember wanting to grow up to be the president. Don't most kids at some point? I remember when I was about 10, thinking it would be really cool to be the first female president (the whole power thing was a bit enticing too). And there was something really empowering about being told in my 5th grade class that any one of us could grow up to be the President of the USA. We could be anything we wanted to be, because this is America.

So what do I tell this little dude, if he ever expresses such lofty aspirations? Sorry buddy, some arcane law dubs you "not quite American enough". But you can be anything else you want to be, really!

"Hey mom. That's dumb!"

So what are we going to do about that? Well how about we kill a whole bunch of birds with one stone? Howz about we:

1) Give adopted children the same citizenship status and rights as US born children

2) Eliminate the discriminatory TB regulations that trap children in Ethiopia

3) Enable siblings to be adopted together, even if one of the children is over 16

Oooh wow! Three for the price of one? Now that's some fancy legislation!

Bill Introduced to Provide Citizenship Rights to Internationally Adoption Children of American Families

The Foreign Adopted Children Equality Act addresses needed changes to the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA) which was enacted to provide automatic U.S. citizenship to internationally adopted children of American citizens. As it stands now, the internationally adopted child of a U.S. citizen receives U.S. citizenship once the child enters the U.S. to reside permanently. If enacted, the FACE Act would allow such children to acquire U.S. citizenship at the time their adoptions are finalized in the country of the child’s birth. The child would then enter the U.S. as a U.S. citizen with citizenship documentation in hand.

“Passage of the FACE Act will eliminate the need for an immigration visa for internationally adopted children and instead will treat these children as children of American citizens, not immigrants subject to immigration regulations,” said McLane Layton, President of Equality for Adopted Children (EACH) and a member of the Families for Orphans Coalition. “Additionally, the FACE Act classifies internationally adopted children as “citizens from birth” just like children born of Americans overseas, thus providing them with equal rights of citizenship, including the right to run for President of the United States.”

“Under current law, the type of immigration visa an adopted child is given to enter the United States determines whether the child receives U.S. citizenship upon entry. Those children who do not receive U.S. citizenship upon entry and whose parents overlook the bureaucratic steps necessary to secure citizenship for their children are often later denied scholarships, passports, and the right to serve in the U.S. military. Most tragically, some young adults who have lived in the United States with loving, American families their entire lives have been deported to their birth countries - places they have no knowledge or memory of – for committing minor juvenile offenses. Half the children adopted internationally each year currently enter the States on the visa that places them at risk,” said Chuck Johnson, a Coalition member and Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the National Council for Adoption.

The FACE Act also provides older orphans the ability to be adopted – children who were overlooked in the Hague Treaty on Intercountry adoption. “Prior to the Hague’s passage, children age 16 to 18 whose younger siblings had been adopted by an American were able to be adopted by the same American family,” said Terry Baugh, President of Kidsave. “The Hague eliminated all adoption opportunities for children 16 and over. The FACE Act will fix this oversight and expand the opportunity of a permanent family to all children up to age 18.”

"Hey, great idea mom!"

Why yes buddy, this is a great idea. So why don't y'all head on over here and sign the petition (it takes like ten seconds, so what's your excuse?). And if you really want to show your favorite little Ethiopian some love...maybe you could please drop you Reps a super quick e-mail and let them know that this bill is important to you (and to a very adorable little Ethiopian boy that just might want to be President someday). And the best part is, it won't cost taxpayers a thing. Now that's novel idea!

For more information, check out these cool folks:
Equality for Adopted Children

* Photo by Sandi

THANKS!