Will Brexit affect the UK adoption of eastern European migrants’ children?

Richard Alcock - The Guardian

This article from the Guardian shares the story of Ilona, a young woman who immigrated to the UK from Hungary. Ilona had a baby at a young age and, not being able to provide financially for her child, made the decision to relinquish parental rights and place her infant daughter for adoption, but wanted her to be adopted in the UK instead of in Hungary. This case is not unique. According to the article, the UK sees hundreds of cross-border care and adoption cases a year, primarily involving EU accession states. In these complicated cases, British courts are having to make decisions about what is in the best interests of the child according to EU regulations. Britain leaving the EU will mean it is no longer under EU jurisdiction and does not have to comply with these regulations.