When I was younger I was told anyone could be president, but I cannot. Like many people, I was adopted internationally, and according to our constitution I cannot run for president due to my place of birth, China. I understand why this requirement is in place; however, I believe the constitution needs amending to allow international adoptees the right to run for president.

Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the United States Constitution states that in order to run for president one must be a “natural born citizen.” The term natural born citizen comes from  English common law; a person born on U.S. soil or born abroad to American citizens. This requirement was put into our constitution to prevent a foreign power, through a president loyal to that power, from seizing control of or unduly influencing our country.

International adoptees, from the time they are adopted, just like any child born in the U.S., are raised as Americans. Our allegiance is to America as if we were born here. Our allegiance is not necessarily tied to our place of birth; on the contrary, our allegiance depends on how we are raised, and to a degree, where we are raised. Being natural born or naturalized does not guarantee loyalty. 

Consider a couple, with a love for the U.S., who immigrated here with an infant child, and then a year later has another child in America. That second baby would be eligible to run for president, yet his or her sibling would not. Both siblings are raised by the same parents in the same house with the same love of the U.S. The only difference is the first child was born in a foreign country. One is not more likely to be more loyal to the U.S. than the other. 

Consider also a couple who are members of the communist party in Russia or China could immigrate to the U.S. and have a child who is born in America. That child very likely could be raised with the ideas of communism and with a loyalty to Russia or China. Yet he or she would be considered a natural born citizen, which would make him or her eligible to run for president even though he or she likely would be loyal to Russia or China and believe that communism is superior to democracy.

I was adopted from China into a United States Marine Corps family when I was fifteen months old. I have grown up like every American kid. My parents often told me I could be anything I wanted because I am an American. Yet I cannot. I am denied the right and honor to run for president because of my place of birth. 

I feel so very blessed to be an American. My parents have spent their entire adult lives defending the freedom that I and all Americans enjoy. They have raised me with the same deep love of God and country that they have. However, their daughter cannot be president while a child raised by parents loyal to another country can simply because that child was born in the U.S.

International adoptees to American citizens, wherever their birthplace, are Americans. They are no different than children who are born in the U.S. or born abroad to American citizens. International adoptees may have a different birthplace, but they are just as American as any other American, and should be able to be President of the United State of America. This is a petition that can be the change with your signature. chng.it/hFpSQ7C6bb

Bibliography

Congressional Research Service. “Qualifications for President and the "Natural Born" Citizenship Eligibility Requirement.” fas.org, Congressional Research Service, 14 November 2014, fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42097.pdf. Accessed 21 March 2021.

Yinger, John. “Origins and interpretation of the Presidential Eligibility Clause in the U.S. Constitution.” joyinger.expressions.syr.edu, WordPress, 6 April 2000, joyinger.expressions.syr.edu/citizenship/origins-and-interpretation-of-the-presidential-eligibility-clause-in-the-u-s-constitution/. Accessed 21 March 2021.