First there is the issue of whether or not Artyem is a Russian or American citizen. Adoptive parents usually obtain American citizenship for the children and cancel their Russian citizenship. Did Hansen?
Now, three weeks after putting the 7-year-old child alone on the plane Bedford County Sheriff Randall Boyce apparently has learned from District Attorney General Chuck Crawford that they do not have jurisdiction in terms of an abandonment as the child was escorted by Nancy Hansen - Torry's mother - from Tennessee to Washington and then set off alone to Russia. So it seems abandonment charges would be placed on Nancy, not Torry, and would have to come from Washington.
Any other charges against Torry would be abuse claimed by Artyem, but that would require his testimony. Crawford is reportedly looking into the possibility of setting up a video teleconference to speak to the child.
Another avenue not addressed is charging Hansen with his support. If you can't someone criminally, hit them in the pocketbook...and make darn sure she never obtains another child from any agency anywhere....or even a dog from the pound.
3 comments:
I don't think you can cancel an adopted kid's Russian citizenship. An adopted child must travel to Russia on a Russian passport until 18. It's a specific law for a specific group of people that has been in effect for some time. Also, because departments in the US don't talk to each other, you can't count on US citizenship being automatically registered in all necessary departments--that seems to be the key, not that it isn't supposed to be automatic. I've been following the woes of adoptive parents with children from Russia on one of the lists and it's so complicated, it's hard to keep up with. Major headaches often arise when the passport must be renewed, which, obviously, it must be several times before 18.
When you speak of what "can" or "cannot" be done - do you actually mean what is "supposed" be done do?
I believe when applying for citizenship for yourself or an offspring you can choose dual citizenship or not.
My information on this specifically comes from:
Alexander Demkin, Russia’s vice consul in New York, reports a conflict. “One of the major problems for us is that under U.S. legislation on adoption, passed in 2000, children adopted abroad become U.S. citizens immediately after crossing the U.S. border on the way to their foster homes. We consider them to be Russian citi-zens until they reach eighteen, although when we make inquiries with their foster parents, we often hear the an-swer, ‘Talk to our lawyer, please. Our child is an American citizen.’”
http://bhtimes.blogspot.com/2006_03_02_archive.html
So at least this one Russian official thinks so!
What part are you referring to? The issue is whether there is comprehensive documentation of the child's US citizenship within the US. As for the Russian citizenship, it is retained until 18. The guy just said that--"We consider them to be Russian citi-zens until they reach eighteen." But the thornier issue is, does the US consider them Americans? A-parents have also thought it was automatic and have been surprised by phoning different departments, e.g., Social Security, to hear that their child is not listed as a citizen. This is usually when someone on the list says: check it out, don't assume anything.
Post a Comment