Inter-Country Adoption of Children Born in the United States

Madeline H. Engel, Norma K. Phillips, and Frances A. Della Cava - Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

Abstract

Inter-country adoption of children from the United States has been going on for decades; however it had not been broadly recognized by adoption professionals. Prior to 2008, when the USA contracted with The Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, no protective legislation aimed at monitoring these adoptions existed, offering no protection from abuses that have been associated with inter-country adoption. Even after the policy change in 2008, the USA has had no requirements for reporting all inter-country adoptions. Historically, inter-country adoptions from the USA have involved children of racial minorities. This practice raises social justice issues and questions of protection of the rights of all children.