After 7-Year Custody Fight, Family to Return to China

Dec. 17, 2007 — -- Just as she's adjusting to her new family after seven years at the center of a bitter custody dispute, 8-year-old Anna Mae He is facing another wrenching change: She and her biological parents must soon leave the country she's known all her life and return to China.

Earlier this year, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that Anna Mae should return to her biological parents after living in Memphis with an American couple who raised her since she was an infant.

She left the home of Jerry and Louise Baker — the only home she'd ever known — four months ago and moved in with her biological parents, Jack and Casey He, and her biological brother and sister, whom she'd never met.

Now, as she adapts to her new life — learning to use an abacus and to speak Chinese — she faces the even more daunting prospect of moving to a new country.

"When she came back to us, she was surprised to find out she has Chinese parents," Jack He told ABC News. "She was even more surprised to have a Chinese brother and sister. So at that time, five or six months ago, she was very fearful of China."

Jack He's visa was revoked in 1999 and a judge only allowed the Hes to stay in the country while they fought for custody of Anna Mae. Now that the court battle is over, the Hes have decided to leave voluntarily and try to get a visa to return.

Though Anna Mae is an American citizen, she must stay with her family until she turns 18.

"There are only two choices basically for us since our visa expired," said Jack He, who works as a janitor at his church. "Number one is called forced deportation. That means to my understanding that the deportation officer could knock on the door at any time and yank us out of the house. That would be terrifying for the kids."

Jack He said he has spent the last few months trying to teach Anna Mae, who has not seen the Bakers since moving in with her biological parents, about her heritage and help her adjust to being Chinese. Anna Mae still sees the Bakers' daughter, Aimee.