From Ethiopia to America and Back Again: An Adoptee’s Fight for Justice with Mike Davis and Maureen McCauley - Ep 169

"I thought I'll go to the embassy and I'll clear this up. Yeah, that I was adopted legally and I was US citizen." -- Mike Davis

 

READ THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://app.swellai.com/t/tp_01JB3BV6BMN0QQD1M7BWPZEVPK

 

EPISODE SUMMARY:
In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the privilege of speaking with Mike Davis, an intercountry adoptee whose story sheds light on the often-overlooked complexities of adoption, particularly regarding citizenship issues. Mike was adopted from Ethiopia at the age of eight by an African-American single father and grew up in the U.S. However, in the mid-1990s, he discovered that he was not a U.S. citizen, despite his father's efforts to complete the necessary adoption paperwork.

In 2005, Mike was deported to Ethiopia, a country he barely remembered, where he faced immense challenges, including language barriers and a lack of support. He shared the harrowing details of his deportation, including being dropped off at the airport with only the clothes on his back and a small amount of money. Mike's story is a stark reminder of the potential pitfalls in the inter-country adoption process and the devastating impact it can have on families.

Throughout our conversation, Mike emphasized the ongoing struggles he faces, including the inability to access benefits he contributed to while working in the U.S. and the emotional toll on his family, including his wife and children, who have also suffered due to his deportation.

We were also joined by Maureen McCauley, an adoptive parent and advocate for Mike, who has been instrumental in raising awareness about his situation and has created a GoFundMe to assist with his legal and medical expenses. Together, we discussed the broader implications of Mike's story, including the urgent need for legislative change to protect the rights of all adoptees, particularly those who are at risk of deportation.

This episode serves as a call to action for listeners to educate themselves about the complexities of adoption and to advocate for the rights of adoptees. We encourage all Americans to support the Adoptee Citizenship Act and to reach out to their Congressional representatives to help ensure that no adoptee has to endure the hardships that Mike has faced. Thank you for joining us in this important conversation.

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RESOURCES:

• Donate to Mike’s GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-mike-davis-abebe-hailu-come-home-to-the-us
• Read the book that Maureen edited and that includes Mike's essay, Lions Roaring Far From Home: An Anthology by Ethiopian Adoptees: https://www.amazon.com/Lions-Roaring-Far-Home-Anthology/dp/B0BNTXTHRG
• Check out Maureen's blog, Light of Day Stories: https://lightofdaystories.com/

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

• Adoptees for Justice: https://www.adopteesforjustice.org/

• Adoptees United: https://adopteesunited.org/

• Adoptee Citizenship Act:

•  https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4448

• https://adopteerightslaw.com/congress-introduces-the-adoptee-citizenship-act-of-2024/

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Unraveling Adoption is produced and hosted by Beth Syverson

Music written and performed by Joseph Nakao

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00:00 - Welcome to Unraveling Adoption
Introduction of host Beth Syverson and her mission.

00:01:00 - Complexities of Adoption
Overview of today's focus on inter-country adoption issues.

00:02:00 - Meet Mike Davis
Introduction of guest Mike Davis and his background.

00:03:40 - Deportation Experience
Mike recounts his deportation to Ethiopia.

00:05:30 - First Days in Ethiopia
Mike's initial struggles upon arrival in Ethiopia.

00:07:00 - Citizenship Realization
Discovery that Mike was not a U.S. citizen.

00:09:00 - Adoption Paperwork Issues
Discussion on the confusion surrounding Mike's adoption documents.

00:10:30 - Legal Challenges
Mike shares his legal battles to prove citizenship.

00:12:00 - Family Impact
The emotional toll on Mike's family due to his deportation.

00:14:00 - Criminal Charge Consequences
Mike discusses the events leading to his criminal charge.

00:16:30 - Legal Representation Struggles
Challenges in finding effective legal help.

00:18:00 - Support from Maureen
Introduction of Maureen and her advocacy for Mike.

00:20:00 - Adoptee Citizenship Act
Explanation of the legislative efforts for adoptee citizenship.

00:22:00 - Broader Adoptee Issues
Impact on other adoptees facing similar challenges.

00:24:00 - Call to Action
Encouragement for listeners to support the cause.

00:26:00 - Final Thoughts from Mike
Mike's reflections on the injustices faced by adoptees.

00:32:00 - Conclusion and Resources
Wrap-up and information on how to get involved.