Wow! I must say I am shocked. I knew he wanted to replace him but I didn't think it would actually happen. I guess we just have to wait and see how this affects the process. Hopefully it won't add time to a very painfully slow process.

We heard that they want Barrios out and that is a complication for those files who were waiting for his approval and final signature. Tomorrow they expect to hear more news.

Does it mean that all the cases currently being processes at the PGN will be affected?

Vince

They are most definately still working, as of today 4/21 (14 1/2 months since our referral) we are finally OUT! I hope we see many more.

Does anyone know if this is going to slow cases down more than they already are??

Yes, it will probably mean even more delays (as it has every previous time!).

But only time will tell how much of a delay.

I hope and pray that the new Attorney General pushed the adoption section for a more organized and efficient process to finish out the notorial adoptions. And even more importantly (although it does not feel that way while we are all waiting), I hope this is another great step for Colom to establish a government body that will truly serve the Guatemalan people!!!

Why doesn't this make me feel any better? We've already been in and out and in and out and now back in PGN for the past 7 1/2 months b/c of stupid lawyer/agency errors. Not to mention the fact that our BC comes from an INSANELY difficult area to get new docs from. My daughter is almost 2 and we still do not know when she'll come home. Oh please just let our kids come home, PLEASE!!!

We finally received a DNA match....3/17, we just got PA 4/17....and now this......I feel like Charlie Brown....Arrgh!!!!

I know this is off the subject, but Friday we did our Finalization from our son that we adopted Domestically. I was amazed that there were 6 babies in the court room from Guatemala. Someone out there is still doing there jobs and I'm glad these babies have made it home. I continue to pray for all of you and Guatemala. My little Guatemalan will be 4 this year.

I'm confused as to why it would matter who the Attorney General is. I thought Victor Hugo Barrios Barahona was the Director of PGN, and his position is clearly to review and (hopefully) sign OUT files, once approved. Why would the Attorney General's being replaced have any effect on how many files Barrios signs or doesn't sign? Would you clarify this for me? Thanks.

Damaris

I hope that Gordillo and Barrios are not going to hold our cases hostage as a result of Gordillo appealing this decision. A new reason for me to start freaking out. I have been in and out of PGN since November 07. I just can't take it anymore.

As an outside observer living here in the United States, I must admit that I find Guatemalan politics very confusing at times. With a multitude of political parties, there are often some interesting alliances. The new head of PGN, described by the Prensa Libre as an FRG (the party of Rios Montt) functionary, was the director of the national police in the early days of the Alfonso Portillo (FRG) administration. At first blush it seems like a stretch for President Colom to bring in someone from the right wing to serve in a left-leaning administration. Is there something I'm missing here? And is this guy related to former President Alfonso Portillo?

In any event, it appears that President Colom has established a strong enough case for Gordillo's removal that it will be difficult at best to mount a constitutional challenge.

According to " Prensa Libre " the new AG took the oath yesterday and tried to take possession of the new job but that wasn' t possible because Gordillo refused to leave office. Gordillo filed an " amparo with the Constitutional Court. The spoke person ( mr. Lario ) for president Colom, said that Gordillo is not longer in charge of the PGN and therefore his amparo is filed as a private person and not as a judge. The main reasons for his destitution are the trips that he had to Europe and elsewhere waisting a lot of money and the inefficiency of the PGN, often highlighted by the lawyers.Mr Lario also said that right now Gordillo is committing a crime because he has not authority and can be tried for impersonating a judge.

My agency is informing me now that PGN is closed. Are there any new updates? Our case is in PGN and our week of submits were getting OUTS this week! :(

After I read this post earlier today I sent an email to our attorney. She confirmed that today PGN did shut down until the ruling of the court. Has anyone else heard this..Kevin...Kelly?

They were also very hopeful that this would be resolved very quickly!!! I sure hope so!!

We went in PGN 9/28/07 and found out we were approved 4/10. Our atty said the file has to be "sealed" before it goes to the window for pickup. Does anyone know about this and could all this change in leadership slow it down? If we were approved by Barrios on 4/10, how long does it take to "seal" the file and take it to the window?

I was told that once Colom was able to replace Gordillo, things would start moving and cases that were waiting just on their last signature, would be released. There's a comment above of a family being released on 4/21, I've also read on adoption.org of families being released on 4/21, my attorney was able to get a few families out 4/22 and was told to come back today for ours!?!? So hpoefully they continue to move things along there!!

Got an email from adoption supervisors(SJI)stating that the old AG resigned and also Barrios resigned also.!!!! The new PGN director according to them is MS. De Leon Velasco. Good news I hope...maybe now PGN cases will move quicker!!!

Bad news, folks. In keeping with our adoption traditions (into China as the slowdown begins, into Guatemala last October), we have now just entered PGN. There will now most definitely be a slowdown! Sorry! I'd like to know if, up to now, anyone has made it out in the 8-10 week time frame I once heard about, or even anywhere close to that...