Louisiana senators appeal Russia’s adoption ban

An adoption ban put in place by Russian leaders has taken its toll on Louisiana parents and hopeful mothers and fathers around the rest of the country. The ban forbids American parents from adopting Russian children. Some families were in the middle of the adoption process when the ban was put in place by Russian president Vladimir Putin. It took effect on the first day of this year.

Believing that it was unfair to keep parents in limbo, two United States senators from Louisiana are challenging the ban. They would like president Barack Obama to get involved and put the heat on Russian leaders to reverse the measure.

One of the senators – a Democrat out of New Orleans – had gone through the adoption process to adopt her three children, which presumably is why she is so passionate about seeing the ban reversed. She pointed out that many American parents have invested their time, emotions and resources with the expectation of adopting a Russian child, only to be turned away in the middle of it all.

The ban affects a decent chunk of parents nationwide. The State Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services stated that there were up to 500 adoptions involving Russian children set to move forward before Russian leaders pulled the rug out.

The adoption of Russian children is fairly common in the United States, with 1,000 Russian children finding new families in the United States every year.

The senators argued that the Russian government simply issued the ban as a way to retaliate against the United States for its perceived wrongdoing. The ban came after the U.S. Congress decided to hold Russian officials responsible for their role in imprisoning and killing a native attorney back in 2009.

The Louisiana senators asked Russian officials to focus on the fact that the ban hurts many impoverish Russian children, who now cannot find new homes. Stats show that 110,000 children in Russia live in orphanages or other institutions.

Adoption can be a complex process on its own. This recent ban has added yet another frustrating obstacle that American parents must clear in order to make an addition to their families.

Source:HoumaToday.com, “Senators turn to president on adoption ban,” Jeremy Alford, Jan. 28, 2013