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Klobuchar Brings Minnesota Families' Stories to Guatemalan President, Ambassador

Emphasizes how recent changes in adoption policy have affected Minnesotans

April 29, 2008

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar met today with Álvaro Colom, the President of Guatemala and Fransisco Villagran, Ambassador of Guatemala to the U.S., to bring the stories of Minnesotans who have been affected by the recent adoption moratorium imposed by the Guatemala government.  Klobuchar also expressed concern that Guatemala may be considering halting the processing of all pending adoptions. The Senator pressed President Colom’s Administration to work with Minnesota families who are currently in the process of finalizing their adoptions. 

“This meeting was an important opportunity to make President Colom and Ambassador Villagran aware of how families are being affected by Guatemala’s new policy,” said Klobuchar.  “We must work together to ensure that we can have the common goal of helping place these children in permanent homes with loving families.  This is not just about helping families in America who want to adopt.  It’s also about protecting Guatemala’s children in need who deserve a permanent, nurturing family – many Guatemalan children have found these loving families right here in Minnesota.”

During her first year in office, Senator Klobuchar has followed the situation closely and her office has worked with hundreds of constituents regarding their concerns with Guatemala adoptions, and has helped several families complete the adoption process.  Klobuchar has met with a number of the families affected to discuss their concerns and assist them with completing their adoptions.

Guatemala informed the U.S. government late last year that it will no longer process international adoptions after December 31, 2007 to comply with the Hague Treaty on Intercountry Adoptions.  The sudden cut-off date would have affected approximately 2,900 pending cases.  Klobuchar had pushed to allow adoptions underway before December 31, 2007 to be completed as long as they registered under the Guatemalan National Adoption Council (CNA) to help Minnesota families complete the long adoption process, which can take up to a year.

Last fall, Klobuchar also sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging her to do everything possible to facilitate ongoing adoption efforts in Guatemala for families in Minnesota and across the country.  She also signed Congressional letters to the head of UNICEF and to the president of Guatemala requesting an interim process be allowed for pending adoptions to be completed.

Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) also attended the meeting.

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