Adoption Nightmare (FReeper Help Requested)

Sept 17, 2005 | TankerKC

[TankerKC]

I'm to the point of begging now. I need some good advice on what we do next. Our daughter is an illegal alien in the eyes of the USCIS. We can't abandon her. We can't got to Mexico to try to rectify this situation...we'll just end up paying bribes.

Help. Please

[clee1]

You need to call your local district representative for Congress.

The can cut mountains of bureaucratic bullsqueeze in a hurry.

[Mamzelle]

Prayers for you--may someone who knows what can be done read your post.

[MarMema]

I hate the INS. I don't even want to know what they are asking for this "service" now, having paid for it several times years ago.

Let me ask around and see what I can discover for you.

[LauraleeBraswell]

Call your local news station.

[Bon mots]

Who is your congress critter? Let's all make some noise on your behalf...

[processing please hold]

That's the same thing I was going to advise...two great minds. :-)

[tuffydoodle]

The local newstation with a consumer reporter might do the trick.

[Jemian]

Talk to either Jeff Sessions or Richard Shelby. Depending on what district you are in, you could get your congressman. Bud Cramer is the rep for the Huntsville area. Since this is a federal matter, establishing citizenship, this falls under their purvue. IMO, uninformed though it is, if your sister testifies that this is her child, and that can be established through DNA testing, the government ought to recognize your daughter's citizenship no matter where she was born. I know, that is logical and we're dealing with government. Good luck and God bless you.

[Dog Gone]

A child born to an American citizen in Mexico is an American citizen, as well as a Mexican citizen. I don't know why this is more complicated than providing copies of the Mexican birth certificate and the mother's birth certificate in order to establish citizenship.

[WildTurkey]

The can cut mountains of bureaucratic bullsqueeze in a hurry.

I once had to ask my (democratic) congressman for assistance with the federal bureaucracy. His aide was astonded when I told him that I would not need his help if the congressman had done his job in removing the bureaucracy.

[Jemian]

This is the link to the US House Web page. Put your zip code in the blank there and it will tell you who your congressman is and, presumably, how to reach him.

[TankerKC]

Talk to either Jeff Sessions or Richard Shelby.

We sent letters to Shelby & Session along with Boxer & Feinstein (since she was brought into CA).

Senator Sessions responded with advice from the State Dept that said for us to take our daughter to the US Embassy in Mexico. We WILL NOT do that, because we may not be able to get her back into the US.

Senator Feinstein’s office called us and promised some help, but never called back.

I suppose we can try that route again.

[Kolokotronis]

Get ahold of the highest local pol you can, ask him/her to tell you who to call in either of your Senators' offices. They'll take care of it. If not, TV is always a good option but only if you've tried the pols first. INS is ALWAYS a waste of time.

[pbear8]

I second clee1's advice. Call your congresscritter. This is the one time they can actually be helpful. There are 'congressional liasions' in SS and other departments tasked with just answering referrals from congressmen. These folks tend to be a bit sharper than usual.

Put your request in letter form, just as you have laid it out here with dates and copies of correspondence between you and whichever gov't agency.

It won't hurt if you know 'someone' who knows 'someone'.

Best wishes and God bless you for helping an innocent child.

[TankerKC]

A child born to an American citizen in Mexico is an American citizen, as well as a Mexican citizen. I don't know why this is more complicated than providing copies of the Mexican birth certificate and the mother's birth certificate in order to establish citizenship.

There was no Mexican birth certificate, because my sister was wanted my the law and afraid to report the birth. She just put the baby under her shirt and drove back over the border.

It should be simple, because we have now adopted the baby, and we are both citizens.

[Jemian]

Yes, keep her on this soil no matter what. Do you live near Huntsville or Montgomery? I think that WSFA or WAAY or a FOX TV news place might be interested in doing a human interest story. Sometimes the light of public pressure helps out. Contact the B'ham News or the Huntsville Times. My heart goes out to you. You're doing the right thing. It can't be easy.

[Jemian]

Mike Rogers is the rep for the Auburn area. He's a republican.

[firewalk]

Bttt

[SandRat]

TankerKC,

clee1 said it exaqctly right. Contact your congressperson and be a pest about it. You may hate to do it but get the media in the midst of this. Congresspersons hate negative press.