I first heard of this late last night from someone staying at the Marriot in Guatemala City. She referred to it as a police baby raid. Who exactly is detaining these poor foster moms and for what reason? I hope that this is resolved quickly so that they can safely care for these children.

how will this affect those who will picking up their babies to go home to the USA?

Stacy

Thanks Kelly (and Kevin) for your quick and accurate response. It's reassuring to have Guatadopt for updates. However, I hate it when bad news (like this) proves to be true and if it's here on this site, I know it's not just a crazy rumor. Hopefully, your next report can say that the issue had been resolved and we can visit again.

I have searched everywhere on the web and news to hear something about what is going on at the hotels. I have found nothing. Thank you so much for letting us know you are the only place I was able to find anything. I am praying everything works out ok. Our baby boy is waiting in Guatemala for us, and we are waiting for him. Thanks again for keeping us informed.

Yes, our agency let us know today that all visitation is being suspended until further notice. In addition, the foster mothers are being harrassed by the police when they bring the babies to the clinics for their medical visits--so the medical visits are being suspended as well. We were hoping to visit our daughter in November or December but we want everyone to be safe at this point. It is sad when you think that the police are supposed to protect the children rather than put their safety in jeopardy.

This is the letter that my agency sent to me yesterday afernoon

We just received information that the Attorney General of Guatemala is going to issue an order affecting adoptions in Guatemala. The order requires all adoption cases to have a judicial letter from the family court authorizing the child to go to foster care. All adoption cases in Guatemala do not have such judicial letter because, according to the attorneys, it is not required by law. According to this order any person who carries a child or any adoption document without the judicial letter will be detained by the authorities (police). All other persons involved in the adoption case (social worker, facilitator, attorney, etc.) will also be detained. The child will be brought to a Guatemalan orphanage.

The Guatemalan adoption attorneys will meet tomorrow in order to discuss the matter and to stop the order. According to the Guatemalan adoption attorneys the Attorney General is exceeding his functions and misinterpreting the law. Meanwhile the attorneys and facilitators have decided that it is in the best interest of the children not to plan any visit to Guatemala at this time and to cancel all appointments where the children have to be taken out of their foster homes.

We will keep you informed about the development of this important matter affecting Guatemalan adoptions.

My husband and I just received the word from our agency that we can not risk visiting at this time. Needless to say we are devasted. We are worried for everyone's safety. This one caught me off guard! I will be praying harder than ever now!

I just don't understand why the uproar in Guatemala at this time. It saddens me to see families and children being hurt by all this bogus hoopla down there. I wish everyone good thoughts and prayers towards their impending adoptions. All the love to you all!

I can not believe there are no problems in Guatemala. Why must they foucus on people doing such good things. I think this is digusting. These governments officials need there heads examined maybe by the babies I think there smarter.

Is now the time to start the letter writing and phone call campaign? I've sat back and waited long enough. All the nonsense really needs to stop. All children deserve loving homes. Why do these officials feel an orphange is superior to a loving home? I've had enough. Kevin--Point us all in the right direction regarding who to contact (state reps, senators, etc.) or maybe we can support Susan L. in some way. I'm tired of the Guatemalan nonsense. They act like we (adoptive parents) are criminals who are endangering innocent children. When in fact that is what they are. I'm am so frustrated at this entire process right now. I can't say another prayer, I can't keep the faith, I need to TAKE ACTION! Arrrrghh.

We were scheduled to visit our son in Guatemala in two days from now. Our agency and the Guatemalan attorney had advised against visiting so we just now cancelled our reservations. This is such a heartbreak.

Jamie,
Agree with you...however we can never stop praying to God. The bottomline is that faith is supporting us all and God will see us through this...YOU CAN BANK ON THAT! NOW, in regards to action. My wife and I have been in and out of PGN for over 6 1/2 months and scrutinized by the minor's review section! We were informed last week that we are once again going to have to deal with a PGN snag that could take up to another 1-2 months! Since Barrious became PGN Director it has grown even more ridiculous. Being a military officer here in DC, I know the only way that the State Dept and our Congressional Reps will listen to us is if we approach them as a block (i.e., all of the US families adopting from Guatemala sign a unifying document and deliver it to our Reps requesting State to intervene). Guatemala currently has some big items on the table in the international political arena, namely a current battle between Venezuela for a seat on the UN Security Council. Due to our current differences with Venezuela, the US is backing Guatemala to win this seat. If we were to petition our Reps and our situation gained big attention I wonder how much Guatemala really wants that UN seat??? Definitely something for us all to think about as things appear to not be improving.

CW I agree that now is the time to take a stand for our children. and yes what better time then when the USA is really interested in Guatemala and its government.tell me where to sign....can we rig something here on this site?

Get something out there on this Web Sight so we all can SIGN IT. By doing it this way we stand a better chance of something being done. We will be a UNITED FRONT and the government should take better notice of this. I agree with all of you, this has gone to FAR and something positive has to be done NOW.......

CW (and Jean)-Good points. We have to do this. This has gone on long enough. Kevin or Kelly-Can you put something on this site for us to "sign"? Is there something I can write? Please someone let's get this going. I can help in anyway.

Thanks-Jamie

If someone could draft a letter and post it on this website, we could all print a copy, sign it and send it to our state representatives..asap. I'm only 3 months into the process, so if really feel for you all that have been going through this for a longer time. Let's take action NOW. Our children need us to stand up and advocate for them.

I agree. We need to actively do something. Count us in.

Mike and Arvella

Hi,
We recently brought our daughter home after fostering her in Guat. for 5 1/2 months and I was horrified to hear what is happening now. We made very good friends who are still there fostering thier babies and we would like to help in any way possible so if someone does get a letter going you can count us in as well.
It is so sad because we were actually thinking of returning with our daughter to visit our friends next month and even though she has her citizenship papers I am too scared to risk it now.

Keeping everyone in our thoughts!!!!

David, Toni, and Eva Marie Kruger

i WOULD BE HAPPY TO WRITE THE LETTER. However, I'm still early in the process and i havent been seeing these issues first had. Can someone who is articulate, provide me with some details about what has been happening with the police? Also, what else should we address with our leaders. Let me know and I'll write it.