INS Discusses New Plans to Improve International Adoptions

INS Commissioner James Ziglar provided testimony at a Congressional Hearing on May 22, 2002, in which he reviewed the INS’s critical role in the international adoption arena, and shared plans for improvements to the international adoption process. The circumstances that arose in connection with the suspension of the adoption of children from Cambodia and Vietnam have brought the issue to the forefront for Commissioner Ziglar. In light of this issue, the INS Adoptions Task Force is looking to borrow from the Hague Convention and the best practices in the field to make important changes and improvements to the process. Commissioner Ziglar pointed out that one of the most important improvements to international adoptions is the implementation of the Hague Convention through the Inter-country Adoption Act (IAA). The lead agency in implementing the IAA is the U.S. Department of State. The Hague Convention and the IAA will require that the child’s eligibility to immigrate be determined before either adoption or placement for adoption may occur in countries party to the Hague. It will also significantly expand the group of children who will be available for adoption and who can immigrate to the United States. It will not be necessary for each child adopted from a Hague Convention country to be an orphan. Also, the Hague Convention will provide for counseling for all prospective adoptive parents. These schedules will not take place until 2004.

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