Well we finally have the official statement regarding the implementation of a second DNA test for children to be adopted from Guatemala. The State Department announced it earlier today in a conference call with representatives of US adoption agencies.

The Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Maura Harty says this new requirement is to increase the scrutiny of the unregulated adoption process in Guatemala.

All adoptions finalized on or after August 6th will be required to do this second DNA test. Unlike the first one that verified that the mother giving the child for adoption was the actual birth mother, this DNA test verifies that it is indeed the same child that was relinquished by the birth mother in the first DNA test.

There is little doubt that this will increase the time it takes to get an embassy appointment or Pink Slip. After the lawyer presents the finalized paper work to the US Embassy in Guatemala, the test must be performed. This can take up to two weeks. Hopefully, the embassy will review the other paperwork while awaiting the results of the test. When the results are received by the embassy, an appointment will be scheduled and the parents will receive their Pink Slip.

I wonder what adoption agencies will do in the event that the child has been switched and the adoption of course will not be completed. In addition to the horrible anguish and disappointment, most parents have usually completed their final payments to the agency and the lawyer at this time. Parents should ask their agencies this question.

My next thought is what happens to the poor child that cannot be adopted. There is probably little chance that he/she will be returned to the birth mother. That leaves the options of being put in an orphanage.

Lawyers who commit these crimes are rarely punished in Guatemala. As a matter of fact, many go on practicing adoption law immediately. The US Embassy in Guatemala will certainly be able to provide lists of the names of lawyers who have switched children and they should never be able to complete an adoption again.



Statement on the Department of State Website