Approximately 200,000 international adoptees in the U.S. face potential deportation as immigration enforcement intensifies. Many adopted children were never properly naturalized due to decades of inconsistent adoption procedures, leaving them vulnerable despite growing up as Americans. Adoptees like Tiko' Rujux-Xicay, born in Guatemala and raised in Minnesota, now carry multiple documents to prove their citizenship in daily life.

The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 automatically granted citizenship to adoptees under 18 on February 27, 2001, but excluded those older. Thousands entered on expired visas or never completed naturalization processes. Minnesota has one of the largest concentrations of foreign-born adoptees, with at least 17,547 Korean adoptees lacking citizenship. ICE's recent enforcement actions have intensified fears.

Immigration lawyers report adoptees are increasingly being detained despite having passports and other documents. While the USCIS recently waived the $1,300 fee for citizenship certificates, wait times extend up to 18 months. Adoptees must navigate complex legal processes to secure their status in a climate of heightened immigration enforcement.