He was brought to Illinois for adoption from Colombia in 1978. He found out only 5 years ago he isn’t a citizen. Alison Bowen, Chicago Tribune
Michael Libberton felt like a U.S. citizen his entire life. After all, since arriving in the U.S. from Colombia in 1978 as a toddler brought here for adoption by his parents, he assumed he was.
Five years ago, he found out he wasn’t.
Despite being adopted by U.S. citizen parents, federal law has limited citizenship options for some international adoptees. A bill introduced in March (H.R. 1593) and supported by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., would ensure all internationally adopted children can become citizens.
People adopted from overseas assume they are U S citizens but often are not chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
2:55 pm UTC Dec. 16, 2020
photo by Eve Edelheit for USA TODAY
For 40 years, his name was Michael Libberton.
The Florida man defined himself by his Midwestern upbringing and the values instilled by his adoptive parents. Libberton, who was adopted shortly before his second birthday, said he thought little of the fact that he’d been born in Colombia.
Then, in 2016, Libberton applied to Lake Technical College to strengthen his welding skills. There was a problem with his paperwork. Over the next two years, Libberton followed a trail of records from his adoptive family to the city in Illinois where he grew up to the immigration office and learned that he was not, as he’d always believed, a U.S. citizen.
It s Ashley with the news you need to know.
But first, did COVID-19 create a new kind of Dad? A vaccine means more Americans could soon return to work. Dads who got more time with kids may want more job flexibility and a new routine.
The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe here!
Checks and balances
Lawmakers closed in on a roughly $900 billion COVID-19 relief deal Wednesday that may include another round of aid checks and other much-needed financial benefits, according to a source familiar with negotiations. Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Senate Republican, said Wednesday he believed checks of $600 or $700 were part of discussions, and the unemployment benefit was about $300 per week. Senate leaders seemed optimistic about the prospects of a deal Wednesday morning. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said lawmakers made major headway on closing a deal that could pass the House and Senate, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said