Robin Whiteley spent another holiday season away from his family this year.

When Whiteley was just a day old, a midwife gave him to Lora and Royce Whiteley who formally adopted him six years later. Today, Robin is 35-years-old, has a family of his own, and neither the United States, nor Mexico, has a record of his birth.

The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram provided the following information about Whiteley's ordeal:

Lacking a birth certificate and naturalization papers, Whiteley, who doesnt speak Spanish, was deported to Mexico on the assumption that it was his country of origin. &

The laws on migration and foreign adoptions are complicated, said Heidi Cox, executive vice president and general counsel for the Gladney Center in Forth Worth... "Your Texas adoption will establish that you are the parent, but not that the child is a citizen, she said."

Because Whiteley doesnt have proper documentation in Mexico either, he cant work. His wife and children have moved to the Rio Grande Valley to be closer to him. the Star-Telegram reported.

Labels: international

Posted By: Aspen/CRC