Dual Citizenship
In this installment of Adoptee Reactions, we pay closer attention to the dual citizenship reclamation process for intercountry adoptees. The 2026 political climate has continued to bring direct challenges to what citizenship means within the United States. This has influenced many in our community to take a more critical eye to what the dual citizenship reclamation process could look like and mean for them. Over 2 panel interviews, we share the experiences, insights and resources of adoptees who’ve reclaimed their citizenship in South Korea, Colombia and Russia. We are grateful for their time and willingness to bring additional context to a very nuanced process full of logistical and emotional hurdles.
Dual Citizenship Guest Speakers
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Jessica M. Luciere
Board Chair, IAMAdoptee & Colombian Adoptee
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José Stark
Co-Founder, Alianza of Colombian Adoptees & Colombian Adoptee
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Svetlana Sandoval
Russian Adoptee
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Lauren Burke
Co-Founder, KAD Citizenship Collective & Korean Adoptee
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Emily Han
Co-Founder, KAD Citizenship Collective & Korean Adoptee
Immigration & Citizenship
January 2025 has brought renewed anxiety and uncertainty for many intercountry adoptees in the US. While the citizenship act of 2000 ensured that adoptees who entered the United States were automatic citizens, this has been little comfort and confidence for adoptees who were naturalized before 2000, for adoptees who never obtained their citizenship, for adoptees who have lost or never received their paperwork from their adoptive families. Even for adoptees who have all their documentation, there remains a collective concern that nothing is certain about their place in the United States. In this second installation of Adoptee Reactions, IAMAdoptee is grateful to leaders in our community who are giving voice to the concern, helping to organize and educate and offer comfort and resources.
Immigration & Citizenship Guest Speakers
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Susan Rodriguez Branco, PhD
PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH, & Colombian Adoptee
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CS Wright
Board Chair, Adoptees United & Korean Adoptee
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Elena Di Giovanna Serrato, LCSW
Founder, Healing Puentes & Colombian Adoptee
China & Korea 2024
In light of the Frontline (PBS) documentary, South Korea’s Adoption Reckoning, and The Associated Press articles about Korean adoption and China’s decision to end its intercountry adoption program—countries which represent two of the largest numbers of intercountry adoptees in the United States—IAMAdoptee convened a group of thought leaders to discuss these major developments.
China & South Korea 2024 Guest Speakers
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Kim Warner Hudy, LCSW
Korean Adoptee
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Kathy Carney Sacco
Child & Family Advocacy, Korean Adoptee
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Grace Newton
PhD Candidate at the Crown Family School of Social Work Policy and Practice at the University of Chicago, Chinese Adoptee