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Geopolitical events such as war or the dissolution of a government, like the collapse of the Soviet Union, can leave people without a country. In the U.S. more than 200,000 people are living in a stateless status.

The Biden administration has introduced new guidelines to support stateless individuals in the U.S., providing a clearer definition of statelessness for immigration purposes. This policy change, led by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, aims to aid the 218,000 stateless people living in the country, like Karina Ambartsoumian-Clough, who have faced legal limbo and lack of recognition. The move is seen as a significant step toward acknowledging and addressing the challenges faced by stateless individuals.

The Biden administration has introduced guidelines to address the needs of the 218,000 stateless individuals in the U.S., incorporating statelessness into immigration considerations. This change marks a significant shift towards providing legal recognition and relief for those without a nationality. Advocates see this as a crucial first step and urge further legislative measures to secure comprehensive protections for stateless people.

The Biden administration has introduced new guidelines recognizing stateless individuals and incorporating statelessness into immigration decisions, benefiting over 200,000 people in the U.S. This significant policy shift addresses the legal limbo faced by stateless individuals and aligns with international human rights standards. While celebrating this progress, advocates urge Congress to pass the Stateless Protection Act for permanent protections and citizenship pathways.

Senator Ben Cardin praised the new DHS guidance for recognizing stateless individuals in the U.S., a move that will significantly impact the approximately 200,000 stateless persons by allowing USCIS to consider statelessness in discretionary immigration decisions. This step is seen as vital for providing clarity and relief for stateless individuals, though further legislative action, such as passing the Stateless Protection Act, is necessary to ensure comprehensive protection and a pathway to citizenship.

Recorded on Wednesday, July 26th, this briefing features remarks from Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Jamie Raskin on the reintroduction of the Stateless Protection Act (SPA). Learn about the critical steps being taken to provide legal recognition and protections for stateless individuals in the U.S.

Imad Sager, a stateless resident of Colorado, shares his story of living in legal limbo despite spending 40 years in the U.S. without a recognized nationality. He highlights the hope brought by the new DHS commitment to defining and addressing statelessness and emphasizes the importance of passing the Stateless Protection Act to provide permanent legal status and rights for stateless individuals in the U.S.

In her article on Elle Magazine, Anna Lekas Miller discusses the profound lessons she learned about love while writing about immigration and statelessness. She delves into the emotional and legal challenges faced by stateless individuals, highlighting their resilience and the impact of living without recognized nationality. Miller’s narrative underscores the importance of empathy and human connection in addressing the complexities of statelessness.