Voting in U.S. elections is a fundamental right reserved for citizens. Non-citizens who participate unlawfully face severe legal and immigration consequences. This issue is particularly pertinent for certain international adoptees who may be unaware of their citizenship status.
Legal Consequences of Illegal Voting by Non-Citizens
- Deportation: Under U.S. immigration law, non-citizens who illegally vote in federal, state, or local elections can be removed from the country.
- Criminal Charges: Unauthorized voting can be prosecuted as a felony, leading to fines and prison time.
- Permanent Inadmissibility: A non-citizen who votes unlawfully may be barred from re-entering the U.S. or obtaining a visa or green card.
- Denial of Naturalization: A non-citizen caught voting illegally may be denied U.S. citizenship when applying, even if not deported.
The Plight of Korean Adoptees
The U.S. has a significant population of international adoptees, many from South Korea. Due to administrative oversights, many individuals were never granted U.S. citizenship. Unaware of their non-citizen status, they may inadvertently engage in activities reserved for citizens, such as voting, thereby risking severe legal consequences.
Contributor of The “Unknown” Culture Club: Korean Adoptees, Then and Now, Monte was born in 1970 in South Korea and was sent for adoption to a family in Iowa in 1978 through Holt International on an IR-4 visa. His adoption was never finalized, and then Monte was again relinquished. He bounced around between several foster homes before his parents legally adopted him in 1981. In 2009, he was deported to South Korea, where he was unfamiliar with the language or culture.” – From the Korean Adoptee Anthology compiled by the Vance Twins
Estimates suggest that thousands of international adoptees lack citizenship, leaving them vulnerable to deportation and other legal challenges.
“The right to vote is sacred,” Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, said in a statement at the time. “If you’re not a U.S. citizen, it’s illegal to vote -– whether you thought you were allowed to or not. You will be held accountable.” –Politico
In conclusion, non-citizens, including certain international adoptees, must exercise caution and understand their legal status to avoid the severe consequences of (illegal) voting.
Adopted From Holt? What you can do. Keep Yourself Safe. Contact the Citizenship Clinic at Adoptees United.
* An IR-4 visa is an “Immediate Relative” visa in the United States that allows a U.S. citizen to bring a child they are adopting from another country to the U.S. while the adoption process is still being finalized, essentially enabling the child to enter the country and begin living with the adoptive parents before the adoption is legally complete; this visa is primarily used for international adoptions where the child is considered an “orphan”. We in Adoptionland call this ‘Paper Orphans’.
