Orphaned, Adopted, Now a Refugee

A woman orphaned in Iran and adopted by American veterans has been granted asylum after decades of legal limbo — a case exposing a loophole that traps thousands of adopted children without citizenship. Despite living in the U.S. since toddlerhood, serving in the military family, and having no criminal record, she was treated as an “alien,” subjected to invasive screenings, and nearly deported over a 1974 visa overstay. Her adoptive parents, who died before completing her naturalization, couldn’t fix the paperwork lost during the 1979 U.S. Embassy seizure in Tehran. Though the judge couldn’t fully resolve her case due to missing documents, he declared her a refugee — granting her work rights and a path to citizenship. Her story is a beacon of hope for others caught in this bureaucratic nightmare, honoring the legacy of her patriotic parents and affirming her place in the country she calls home. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/02098a141fb3eb10