Adopted Children Must Be Allowed to Come Home

For decades, families in the United States have welcomed children from all over the world into their homes. Americans overwhelmingly view adoption in a favorable light, recognizing it as a life-changing way to provide children with safety, stability, and love. International adoption has long reflected our nation’s commitment to family unity and to protecting vulnerable children.

Recently, however, the U.S. government announced a suspension of immigrant visa processing in 75 countries, with no exemption for international adoptions. This policy has placed adoptive families and children in an impossible and heartbreaking situation.

These are not hypothetical cases. These are children who have already been legally adopted by U.S. families. Their adoptions have been approved through both foreign adoption systems and the U.S. government’s rigorous immigration process. Yet, because of this visa suspension, they are now unable to reunite with their families and come home.

Children Still Need Families — Now More Than Ever

While the number of international adoptions has declined in recent years, the need has not disappeared. Vulnerable children around the world still need safe, loving, permanent families. In some countries, that need is more urgent than ever due to instability, poverty, or limited child welfare systems.

Adoption is not merely an immigration benefit. Under U.S. law, adoption establishes a permanent parent-child relationship. Historically, international adoptees have been excluded from travel restrictions for this very reason. Once finalized, adoption is not a discretionary immigration pathway but a lawful act of family formation approved by the U.S. government itself.

That is why the president’s latest travel ban should remove “adoption-based immigrant” from the visa categories barred entry to the United States — an exemption that was included in an earlier travel ban. Reversing this long-standing recognition undermines the integrity of both the adoption and immigration systems.

No Justification for Restricting Adopted Children

There is no credible national security justification for restricting adopted children as a class. Every international adoptee is subject to extensive vetting through both the foreign adoption process and U.S. immigration procedures. These children have already been carefully reviewed and deemed eligible to immigrate to the United States to join their parents, who are U.S. citizens.

Any policy that treats adopted children otherwise is inconsistent with principles of fairness, due process, and family unity. It places children in prolonged uncertainty and keeps families separated, despite having fully complied with the law.

A Call to Action

This is a critical moment for advocacy. Americans should urge their federal lawmakers to call on the president to exempt adoptees from the current travel ban and visa suspension.

Please contact your senators, representatives, and other elected officials and ask them to act quickly on behalf of adopted children and their families. You can easily make your voice heard using National Council for Adoption’s Action Center.

Spread the Word

In addition to contacting your elected officials, please help spread the word. Share this message with friends, family members, faith communities, and on social media. Encourage others to speak up for children who are waiting to come home.

Every voice matters. When we advocate together, we can help ensure that adopted children are protected and families are reunited.