SoCal Woman Adopted as Iranian Toddler Faces Deportation

After living in the U.S. for 53 years, woman now faces removal to Iran, a country she does not remember.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A woman who was adopted from Iran as a toddler is now facing deportation back to the country she left over 50 years ago. The woman, who has lived in the U.S. since she was 3 years old, recently received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security stating she is subject to removal due to overstaying her visa as a child. Despite being legally adopted, having a U.S. birth certificate, and living an "all-American" life, the woman now faces the prospect of being deported to Iran, a country she has no memory of and where she fears for her safety as a Christian woman.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex legal issues surrounding adoptions and citizenship, especially for those adopted before laws were updated to automatically grant citizenship to internationally adopted children. It also raises concerns about the treatment of long-term U.S. residents who face deportation despite having deep ties to the country.

The details

The woman was adopted from Iran in the 1970s by a U.S. Air Force officer and his wife when she was 3 years old. She was legally adopted and has a U.S. birth certificate listing her adoptive parents as her citizens. However, the adoption process at the time did not automatically grant her citizenship, and her father apparently believed the naturalization process had been completed. Now in her 50s, the woman recently discovered this oversight when applying for a passport, leading to the deportation proceedings against her.

  • The woman was adopted from Iran in the 1970s when she was 3 years old.
  • In the mid-1970s, when she was 4 years old, the woman overstayed her visa.
  • In 2008, at nearly 40 years old, the woman discovered the discrepancy in her citizenship status when applying for a passport.
  • Earlier this year, the woman received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security stating she was subject to removal from the United States.

The players

The Woman

A woman who was adopted from Iran as a toddler and has lived in the U.S. for 53 years, but now faces deportation back to Iran, a country she has no memory of and where she fears for her safety as a Christian woman.

The Woman's Father

A U.S. Air Force officer and prisoner of war during World War II who worked as a defense contractor in Iran and adopted the woman as a toddler in the 1970s.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

The government agency that has not provided a comment on the woman's case despite multiple inquiries.

Young Kim

The Congressional representative for the woman's district who is familiar with the case and has made inquiries on the woman's behalf.

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What they’re saying

“I do not have any memories [of Iran]. It just felt like a really foreign, faraway place and dangerous.”

— The Woman (NBC 7)

“I'm struggling and fighting so hard to keep this life in America that I deserve. And, like I said, he made sacrifices to this country, and it's such a betrayal to my dad and to myself to send me back to a country I was orphaned in.”

— The Woman (NBC 7)

“We are dealing with a very sensitive issue, and that is within the Justice Department, working closely with the State Department, and I can't comment beyond the information that I have.”

— Young Kim, U.S. Representative (NBC 7)

What’s next

The woman is awaiting her next court hearing later this month, where she fears leaving her home and attending in person due to concerns about her safety if deported to Iran.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex legal challenges faced by some adopted individuals, even those who have lived in the U.S. for decades, and the need for comprehensive immigration reform to address gaps in citizenship laws that can leave people in legal limbo despite deep ties to the country.