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Sen. Klobuchar Helps Family Cut Red Tape for China Adoption

January 11, 2008

Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today that a Minnesota family has been notified that they will now be able to bring their adopted daughter home from China after two months of delay by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 

“This should never have happened in the first place, but finally this family will be re-united,” said Klobuchar.  “We’ve gotten through the red tape and they’re coming home.   I asked the agency to expedite this case, and I’m glad they did.”

For more than two years, Andrew and Michelle Ransavage, of Hopkins have been working to adopt 2-1/2-year-old Mia.  The adoption was approved by their adoption agency, Children’s Home Society & Family Services, and by the Chinese government. 

In November, they traveled to China to bring their new daughter home to Minnesota.  At the last minute, U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services denied a visa for the daughter, due to a DWI conviction by Andrew Ransavage a year ago.

The DWI had previously been fully disclosed to both the adoption agency and the Chinese government.

Since November, Michelle Ransavage has been in Guangzhou, China, with the couple’s adopted daughter awaiting word on an appeal to Citizenship and Immigration Services.  Their appeal was granted this morning.

Irene Steffas, the family’s attorney, said:  “This is wonderful news for the Ransavage family.  Without Senator Klobuchar’s help, this would not have happened.”

Klobuchar added:  “It just should not have gotten to this point.  It caused enormous emotional and financial hardship for this family.”

Klobuchar had spoken with Emilio Gonzalez, the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services who is also U.S. Undersecretary of Homeland Security, to reinforce the urgency of the case and to ask the agency to review and clarify their procedures so other families do not get caught in the same predicament.

She also wrote a letter to the agency requesting that they expedite the processing of the family’s appeal.  It was co-signed by Senator Norm Coleman, Representative Jim Ramstad and Governor Tim Pawlenty.

Earlier this week, during her tour of communities in southwestern Minnesota, Klobuchar also met with Michelle Ransavage’s parents, Ritch and Luann Mjelde, in Marshall to discuss the case.

Klobuchar said the Ransavages are expected to return to Minnesota next week with their daughter.

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