Are Chinese Adoptees at Risk of Deportation? Here’s How to Prepare
Why Ignoring the Possibility of Deportation Is Dangerous for Chinese American Adoptees
I’m getting really sick and tired of seeing people dismiss valid concerns with, “Oh, that’ll never happen. Stop worrying.”
It’s infuriating, especially when it’s adoptive parents saying this—trying to invalidate the fears and experiences of adoptees or other adoptive families who are rightfully concerned about the possibility of deportation under the current U.S. administration.
Let’s get one thing straight: just because something seems unlikely to you doesn’t mean it’s impossible. And downplaying someone’s fear doesn’t make it disappear—it just makes you complicit in ignoring a very real risk.
The Reality That Adoptive Parents Can’t Fully Understand
My parents don’t know 95% of the crap I dealt with growing up—or what I still deal with today. The truth is, unless you are also of Chinese descent, you will never fully understand what your adopted child faces. You will never stand in their shoes when they experience microaggressions, racial slurs, or casual racism disguised as “jokes.” You won’t know how many times they’ve been told they’re not really American or asked, “But where are you really from?”
So when adoptees raise concerns about potential deportation, it’s not coming from a place of paranoia—it’s coming from lived experience.
And let’s be clear: If the current administration is questioning the citizenship of Native Americans, stripping due process rights from green card holders, and ignoring judicial rulings when it suits their agenda, why should we assume that international adoptees are untouchable?
No one is exempt from scrutiny.
Preparation Isn’t Panic—It’s Smart
I look at this situation the same way I would any other emergency. You don’t wait for a fire to start before buying a fire extinguisher. You don’t wait for a divorce before setting up a separate bank account. You don’t assume you’ll never face a disaster just because it hasn’t happened yet.
Preparing for worst-case scenarios isn’t about living in fear—it’s about having a plan.
So if you or someone you love is a Chinese American adoptee, here are some actionable steps to take now:
Gather Your Documents – Do you have your naturalization certificate or Certificate of Citizenship (CoC)? What about your passport? Adoption records? If you’re missing anything, now is the time to track it down.
Make Digital Copies – Keep digital backups of all essential documents on your phone, a secure cloud service, or an encrypted USB. Have them readily accessible at all times.
Secure Financial Resources – If you ever need a lawyer, legal fees can pile up fast. Start setting aside money now, whether it’s in a separate account or an emergency fund. If your child is detained in another city or state, do you have funds to travel and advocate for them?
Identify Legal Support – Do you know who to call if you need legal representation? Look into civil rights and immigration lawyers now, not when it’s too late. Keep their contact information handy.
Establish a Family Game Plan – If an adoptee is detained and parents aren’t notified, what’s the communication strategy? Does your child know your phone number by heart? How long should you wait before escalating concerns if they go radio silent? Lay out a plan so that if the worst happens, you’re not scrambling.
Hope for the Best, but Plan for the Worst
I sincerely hope this never becomes a reality for any adoptee. But hope isn’t a strategy. Denial isn’t a strategy. Preparation is.
If there’s even a chance that this could happen, then being ready is the only responsible thing to do. Because when it comes down to it, the people saying, “That’ll never happen,” won’t be the ones suffering if it does.