Stateless in Paradise: A Stranded Souls Fight for Freedom

The Journey of a Stateless Person to United States Citizenship

Stranded in American Samoa for over year and five months, this book recounts the agonizing true story of Mikhail, a stateless individual, and his desperate fight to return to the United States. After living and working in the U.S. for 16 years, he found himself barred from re-entry due to a flawed immigration system and a misinterpretation of his world passport and status.

Mikhail’s planned four-day New Year’s Eve getaway to American Samoa in December 2011 quickly transforms into an unexpected ordeal, as he becomes ensnared by the island’s harsh realities. Between the oppressive heat and humidity, which particularly affect the heat-sensitive Mikhail, and frustrating bureaucratic challenges, he finds himself longing for the familiar comforts of Los Angeles – its fresh produce, juice bars, and vibrant coffee scene.

Desperate for a connection to the outside world, Mikhail frequents the local McDonald’s to use their free Wi-Fi and email with friends and advocates, seeking help for his case. He blogs about his experiences, sharing his struggles with the world and shedding light on the plight of the 4,000 stateless individuals living in the United States.

The book explores Mikhail’s history, uncovering the events that resulted in his stateless status. Born to an Armenian family in Azerbaijan during the Soviet era, Mikhail and his family were displaced by the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Tragically, his aunt was stoned to death by local Muslim Azeris, and subsequent attempts to seek asylum in other republics were thwarted by discrimination stemming from their Armenian ethnicity and his sexual orientation.