This is so unfair to everybody and the children. Maybe we need to start writing letters again to the embassy, state department,etc. I am sure that public outcry would do some good as it did before.

Kevin,

what do you mean regarding abandoment cases without COA that were not registered with CA as a Consejo issue? what does Consejo mean?

The Consejo Nacional de Adopciones (National Council on Adoptions) is the designated Central Authority and the government body created unde the new law to govern adoptions. They are the ones who could honor the "referals" of cases in abandonment proceedings, not PGN.

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

I wish there was someone that would help us that are stuck in abandonments. I have wrote letter after letter begging for help and still no one responds. I think we have been forgotten. Is there ANYONE that can help us?

I knew that PGN wasn't letting cases out from the posts for the last couple of days - but this photo really makes me cry. We have all been waiting so very long for our children to come home.

We unfortunately were one of the cases that were not able to be registered with CA because the COA was not issued.
Just today we received word from CA that the only option we have to finish our son's case is to do a national adoption.
I am just thankful that we are living in Guate and have that option! We will be having another meeting personally with CA and finding out more details this week or next, hopefully.

Praying for all others that may be in the same situation.
GuateRose

Does anyone there say when they think it will be that they will begin processing the cases again? Do they have any type of timeframe on how much longer this will be happening? We have all just been waiting so long and I was just a signature away from getting out of PGN. I just want my little boy to come home as now I will miss my 1st ever mother's day with him. This is just a sad situation for everyone!

GuateRose

any word from CA on the abandonment cases that would help those who do not live in Guatemala and cannot do a "national" adoption?

Has anyone heard of an Abandonment Registration?

Ethica mentioned this... I will try to find out more tomorrow.

I am VERY upset that these abandonment cases are just "thrown out with the bath water." We need help for these children who have bonded with us and need to remain legally linked to us.

any advice?
ann

Guaterose,

Can you tell us more about what the CA told you about finishing an abandonment? We were not registered and dont have a COA yet. I dont even want to think that I have no options of possibly finishing her case in the future. We have been trying to bring our daughter home for 5 1/2 years.

I have very little info at this point. I only know they told our facilitator that we will need to do a national adoption. It is possible that they are giving us that option because they know we are living here and want to get moving on something as soon as possible.
The other thing that comes in to play is that Guatemala is not yet considered Hague compliant from what I understand. So technically they can not do international adoptions that were not grandfathered under old law.
I will try to post something as soon as we have more answers. We will be going for our meeting the end of this week or beginning of next.
I am running a tight wire between being stressed about the new loop we were tossed, and glad that we finally have something to work toward! It does help that we have friends that just recently completed a national adoption. I must give them a call and get more details on the actual process.
Keep the faith. God isn't finished with us yet!
GuateRose

We talked with Ethica about abandonments and they seemed to want to help but all of a sudden nothing! They wont e-mail back. To be honest I don't know who to try and contact for help. The people here in the United States or the people in Guatemala? I have been trying both!

Our daughter came home 5 months but I still keep up with everything that is going on with adoptions still. I just want to tell everyone that I'm just sick to my stomach. My heart REALLY ache for every one of you and for all the children in Guatemala right now. My prayers are with all of you in this time of need.
Melissa

I am so sad that this is happening. I am stuck in PGN as to what I thought "close to bringing my daughter home" She is almost 8 months now and she needs to be at home with her family.Our hands are tied. We are at the mercy of Guatemala. I pray for an update and that all this mess is resolved soon.

We were also on Barrios's desk waiting for final signature since 26 March. My friend, who started on the same day, got out. There must be quite a few of us in this situation - so near and yet so far. My little boy is 13 months.

Those of you with abandonments, lets set up a thread on problem cases. Would be interested in who your attorneys are? We also have an abandonement case that PGN delayed so we could not get the COA intime to register. We now have COA but the judge has not released it yet b/c of the all the issues at PGN.

We also have an abandonment case that was not able to be registered with CA due to a delay by PGN that prevented the issuing of the COA in time. The judge has now granted the COA but not released the resolution report - some thing b/c of the situation that has been brewing at PGN for the last couple of months. Let's start a thread on problem cases. I would be interested in who your attorneys are and what options you are pursuing.

We too have been in the process of bringing home our "infant" for 16 months. I can't help but wonder who is responsible for all the added expense of foster care since these cases are dragging along. It is not fair to families, many who now have budget issues in this country. Some of these families have been waiting for years!

Marian,
If the judge issues the COA for your child wont the CNA first look for a Guatemalan family to place your child with since you were not considered "in process" of your adoption?

I too, would really like to start a thread about our abandonments. I have an excellent attorney that I am so grateful for. If it was not for her I would not know what to do!

I just found out our sons were out of PGN April 21.Our attorny's telling us that even though we are out they have put hold on all adotions. She says were are stuck for the time being. Can anyone comment on this situation? Are the cases being held after you exit PGN. Thanks for any help you may offer.

I contacted my atty to get her take on the recent newspaper reports. I asked if we really shouldn't worry about them and she said that they are concerned with the reports and if cases are not getting released next week, then they will begin to file charges against those holding up the cases, since they are breaking the law by holding them up.

just spoke to Guat atty who met with PGN yesterday. she was told they are working on cases and they should be releasing some as early as Friday. I won't hold my breathe but God please let this be true. I will be calling again on Friday.

TROY-

We are in the same situation. Our lawyer told me that she has just to pick up the papers in a sealed envelope. She hopes that next week ( monday or tuesday ) they will be available to her. I think, and this is my personal opinion, that most of the outcome is based on the meeting that President Colom had with the members of the US Congress about the adoptions ( please check Norm Coleman web site ). We do not really know to much. Beside what is on the press, what was really said at that meeting?

Vince

SENATOR NORM COLEMAN WEB SITE: "COLEMAN.SENATE.GOV.".

CKopat-

May 1 is labor day in Guatemala and very likely May 2 ( friday ) will be a day of " bridge ".

Vince

My attorney said that the PGN needs to "glance" over the sealed dossiers as well (ours is)and was also aware that they may start getting some released by Friday. My attorney will be going Friday. Let's hope and pray that some cases will start to come out Friday!!! Stay POSITIVE!!!

I am so saddened and frankly angry by the latest. Our Attorneys said all the cases will be under review. We should expect more delays, previos etc... We were on the last desk and almost out!
Is there anything we can do as a group?

My little girl turns two next week and our other turns one soon.

Our case was not abandonement. Have been waiting for almost 15months.

Prayers are very important but I also think it's time for everyone to band together and take some type of action. There is certainly power in the masses. Remember that just a few weeks ago the giant Wal-Mart was brought to their knees by the public outcry over the unfair treatment of one of their previous employees after a devastating car accident. Someone, if not everyone involved, needs to have charges brought against them. These people and this country are holding all of your hearts ransom and it's criminal to say the least. One of you needs to stand up and say "enough is enough" and lead this protest. Otherwise you will continue to be "pawns" in this game of adoption. May God Bless! Be strong, and be tough! Tears will get you nowhere!

Latest from Coleman's office:
This is the word from DC on the meeting:

From our perspective it was a productive meeting. Senator Coleman welcomed President Colom to the United States and met him with other members.

While understanding that Guatemala is currently undergoing a transition in leadership (The President's new leadership as well as the new leadership in the PGN) Senator Coleman strongly urged President Colom to do what he could to ensure that cases be allowed to continue without unnecessary delay during this transition and urged President Colom to take steps to ensure that cases are processed in accordance with Guatemalan law (ie, the recent adoption of the grandfather provision).

Senator Coleman left the meeting with a strong indication from President Colom that adoption was high on his agenda and would ensure that these cases be allowed to move forward.

Dear Friends: The situation at PGN in Guatemala is not good: IT IS TIME TO START BOMBARDING THE US EMBASSY IN GUATEMALA, IT IS TIME TO START INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE, AS THEY PROMISSED THE CASES TO BE GRANDFATHER, SO PLS START SENDING MESSAGES TO US EMBASSY IN GUATEMALA.

What is the contact info for the US Embassy in Guatemala? I would love to send something!

Miriam, why are you saying this??? I thought they were going to release files next week. Others were posting that this is what their attys were told.

Would it help for friends and family to send messages to the Embassy? They are also affected.

Before we start bombarding the embassy, why don't we give them the time they asked for to get the files moving again? Not even a week has passed. We should take our lead from the attorneys in Guatemala who have a better understanding of the situation. When they start filing amparos, then we know that the situation may need some prodding. The new folks in power have not yet given us a reason to doubt their sincerity. They are not the ones who brought us to the point of this frustration - the old 'business as usual' was the culprit. I am also caught up in this whole mess waiting to bring my child home, but as frustrated as I am with the process as a whole, I feel I need to give them a chance to do the right thing before I make an assumption that they are going to do the wrong thing.

Miriam - what does your post mean? PGN isn't working at all? registered cases aren't grandfathered? nothing is getting out the in near future?
Before the hysteria hits I think we need a little more information. My 2 adoptions have been tough from the get go, we can't afford to be up in arms every other day.
I will do whatever needs to be done to bring my children home.

I'm worried that bombarding the Embassy will slow down those waiting for Pink.

Can the Embassy really do anything to move things along at PGN?

I am really curious how so many of you know where your cases are in PGN? Our agency does not provide us with any sort of updated information like this. Are you calling PGN on your own, and if so can someone share a good phone number? We have been disappointed by our agency in so many ways and now I guess this is just one more disappointment to add to our list. As if Guatemala and it's ever-changing processes were not enough... Excuse my venting, I have so had it with all of the craziness and disregard and lack of common decency. If this did not involve the well-being of a child, I would be long gone.

Miriam, Let's not make more work for the the few people who are there to process all of our paper work. It's not them holding us up! It's the higher ups. The more you bother them, the less time for them to work. Our attorney says she thinks she can pick up our file from PGN on Monday. That's what she was told. We have played by all the rules and know that things come up. We've waited just as long as all the other parents. Most of what the guys who run this blog say usually is true. I broke down in tears today talking about my 2 sons just waiting to be picked up, but causing more work for the few employees that are there will just hold things up longer!

Troy-

I agree with you. Our attorney told us that she was going back on friday ( tomorrow ) to check if the papers will be available to her. By the way, tomorrow the PGN will be working regularly: No " bridge " allowed. And this is a good sign.

Vince

Dana--yes some PAPs call PGN directly. From what I understand the info you get is someties a little behind and at times inconsistent but it appears this was due to a new person answering the phones. The number I've seen is 011-502-2414-8787 when the "system" answers type 2037. Make sure you ask "Habla usted Ingles?" to make sure the person speaks English--that extension is supposed to.... Beware that some agencies strictly prohibit this in their contract (but by the same token, they will not be able to know you've called unless you tell them...) Good luck!!

Dana - 011-502-2248-3200 ext 2037. If you dont speak Spanish, find someone who does. It will make your life much much easier. Good luck.

Troy-

I also agree with you. I believe they closed their doors so that they may thoroughly review and process our files with no interruptions. I would not be surprised to see a steady stream of files start to come out once they re-open their doors.

Dana,

Check out the Yahoo group Estamos Esperando. The people there seem to really know how to get info!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EstamosEsperando/

I think things moving behind that awful sign in the window. I spoke to a very nice woman at PGN just now (in English) and one of my girls moved from 1st to 2nd reviewer in the last couple of days. (of course this is my 4th time with the 2nd reviewer) At least things are moving. I'm so thankful to all the people that ARE working hard to help us.

only positive think!

Anybody heard form their attys or sources in Guatemala what happened if anything today? thanks

Our agency said it is time to contct jcics,our senators and congressmen.