Addressing the Challenges of Statelessness in the U.S.
The phrase “Go back to your country” often targets immigrants in a dismissive manner. For some, returning to a country is not an option. Stateless people, like myself, highlight a flaw in U.S. immigration law that remains unresolved by Congress. At eight, my family sought asylum in the United States. By the time our claim was denied, and deportation was ordered, the Soviet Union, where I was born, had dissolved. Ukraine did not acknowledge me as a citizen, leaving nowhere to return to. We are among the 218,000 stateless individuals in the U.S., living precariously without legal remedies.
Lacking a passport means no valid identification, complicating daily life. Many stateless individuals cannot obtain a driver’s license or state ID, so driving legally, opening bank accounts, signing leases, or boarding domestic flights becomes difficult. Without a Social Security number, seeking employment, even with qualifications, is limited. Professional licenses for positions like teachers and nurses are often inaccessible. Traveling outside the U.S. risks re-entry issues, and simple police encounters can lead to detention due to lack of proper documents.
Despite these challenges, many stateless people have deep roots in America. They have grown up, attended schools, secured their own college education, bought homes, married, and started families here. While not officially recognized as citizens, they consider this country home. The government is aware of their presence, as many have filed for asylum or temporary status, like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Some receive work authorization, while others annually report to immigration officers. In extreme cases, stateless people endure prolonged detention due to no nation accepting them. No one should face such harshness, especially considering the current awareness of detention center conditions.
Though often overlooked, statelessness gained attention during a Supreme Court case on birthright citizenship. Concerns arose over newborns potentially becoming stateless if a proposed executive order progressed, but the Supreme Court upheld the 14th Amendment, protecting children from growing up stateless.
Now, Congress has an opportunity to pass the Stateless Protection Act.
This legislation would provide a solution for long-term stateless residents lacking nationality. It proposes a formal recognition process by the U.S. government, which does not exist today. Recognized stateless individuals would gain protection from detention and deportation, receive legal identification and travel documents, and earn work authorization. While not granting citizenship, it acknowledges their lives built in the U.S. and ends their fear of unexpected deportation threats.
The U.S. has not signed the two key United Nations treaties guiding countries on stateless person treatment — the 1954 Convention, with 99 signatories, and the 1961 Convention, with 82 members. The nation’s immigration policies mirror this outdated oversight by ignoring statelessness. Passing the Stateless Protection Act would bridge one of the most glaring gaps in the system, granting stateless people the belonging they deserve.
Karina Ambartsoumian-Clough is the co-founder and executive director of United Stateless.