In its continuing mission to protect families formed through adoption and assisted reproduction, AAAA issued a press release today urging the Department of State to ease the restriction on the issuance of passports to allow parents to obtain this necessary document for their babies born through gestational surrogacy. To read the full press release, click here.
Humanitarian Parole for U.S. Citizens with Completed Adoptions
Today, the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA) and National Council For Adoption (NCFA) issued a joint press release calling upon the Department of State to grant humanitarian parole to the children of adoptive families who are unable to receive an adoption visa in a timely manner so that the families may safely return to the United States together as soon as possible. Read the entire Release here.
COVID-19 and The US State Department Closure of Passport Agencies
The shut down of regional passport issuing offices, and the directives to only issue passports in life or death situations, is creating very concerning delays for parents coming to the US and hoping to return home with their newborns as soon as possible. AAAA sent the attached letter to Secretary of State Pompeo and to the DOS, Bureau of Consular Affairs, expressing our concern. In part, the letter notes lack of health care for newborns and parents who linger in the States, travel visas expiring, and lack of adequate long-term shelter in which to care for a newborn as some of the top issues of concern due to the shut-down. To read the complete letter, click here.