[KevinK]

There are stories all over the Guatemalan press today with Berger claiming Guatemala has ratified the Hague. Please go to Guatemala Adoption Information and News Guatemala Adoption Information and News to get my synopsis of what is happening.

Also, I will be off the forum for the next week on vacation with my family- great timing huh. So I will not be able to comment on any threads. Kelly from Guatadopt is the one with most of the sources and she will post any news we have on the site.

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

[Pipercub]

Bump.....

[stephjoel99]

The MILLION dollar question is - what does that mean for us in process????

Wendy Berger needs therapy. She's an angry woman.

[kerrib]

I feel sick. I was told on Tuesday that I should get out of PGN next week or the week after.

[KevinK]

I ended with this "For all of you in process… If you have read my rantings, you know that I am very critical and untrusting of our government. Despite that, I do not believe that there is any way the United States government will sit by and watch in-process adoptions be terminated. I am very confident (just my opinion of course) that whatever transpires in Guatemala, those of you with referrals will be able to complete your adoptions."

I don't think Berger will try to disrupt in-process cases. I can't see anything in it for him to do that. The article which clearly is spinning his position mentions next year as being the issue. And if he tried, I think the DOS would freak.

Kevin

[Castanea2]

Thanks once again Kevin. Please enjoy your camping trip, you deserve it. As to what this may mean for those of us in process - well I doubt anyone knows for certain, but see Kevin's educated guess on Guatamala Information and News.

[Guatmom2006]

Steph, I don't think it means anything for those in process...you know how I feel about posts like this. JMHO! I'm sure I'll be slammed!

[stephjoel99]

Yeah, I agree Kerry, plus the US and Guatemala are like long lost brothers since the whole UN Security Council thing. I think one call from the State Dept. and Berger would put his tail b/w his legs re: in process cases.

Maybe it's just a "mine's bigger" to the attorneys to get the Hague going on the Guat. side so they (the gov't) don't look like idiots hanging in the wind - kind of in it, kind of not in, but considered in by the US.

I have a call in to the ADA Vice President - if she has any interesting news I'll post it.

[airstar98]

If someone knows what is going on, please respond. I'm so confused, so please read the post guatadopt on your own, and if you understand, let me know.

I think they said that the first lady's law? was only a cover to get the Presidents Out!?!????

They wrote that they really don't think this will affect families in process, BUT I'm very concerned because these things keep happening.

Also, they said it may happen around November!
Yikes, please someone read it and explain it or give your opinion or anything, I'm spinning!

[Castanea2]

Yes, I think I agree too. This may be one of those bumps in the road we all feared were out there. I think it's a good time to hang in there and keep working. I think we won't know much more until DOS provides a response. Who knows when that might be? Waiting will be the hard part. Everyone take care.

[DeeVee]

So, if this happens, what is your best guess as to what will happen with folks who already have an I171H, but are waiting for a referral?

[praying4rlittl1]

I wonder too about those with an 171H and no referral. This will involve the two we've been trying to get home for 18 months. Since we don't technically have their referral on paper, this scares the c*** out of me. We've contacted our CIS to get our 171H asap and pray that the US and Guatemala honor it. Good gracious.

[KevinK]

Airstar,

The Ortega/berger Law proposal was written by a member of Congress and Wendy Berger, the first lady. It did not pass Congress. The first lady has made adoptions her pet project.

The Executive Order of a couple months ago, that Berger never submitted and denied existed, was basically the same policies, or principles, as that law proposal.

What I am not sure of is what the impact of an exective order would be. As best I can tell, it could (a) be something that puts congress in a box so far as what type of adoption legislation they could pass (b) attempts to make Ortega/Berger the de-facto law of the land even without congress (c) a cross between the two. To explain (c), PGN is part of the executive branch. So in theory, Berger could tell PGN to abide by the executive order. That would ultimately lead into a battle in the courts.

It's all not 100% clear and we'll post as we understand things. What i will say to respond to some of the earlier posts. No, I won't slam anyone ad wasn't even offended. Guatadopt has tight relationships with the ADA and it's pretty obvious that's where we get much of our inside info. Guatadopt has never been challenged on anything we've posted for years - with one exception - the executive order a few months ago. And in that, it was not ADA or anyone like that disagreeing with us. It was the executive branch of Guatemala who told DOS it was not true and DOS believed them. People do some times read too much into what we report. We try to keep parents informed of what is happening. But that doesn't make them the reality of how things end up. Werdo our best to state fact as fact and opinion as opinion. We try to state what we are being told, our interpretations, etc clearly.

On the last executive order thing, I happen to believe that it was very real. I happen to believe that Guatadopt's proactive reporting of it got families active and applying pressure on DOS. And that then DOS called Berger's office upset (as it would have meant a moratorium) and so Berger denied it and never issued it. So maybe us breaking it this time can have the same effect. That is my opinion, not fact, for whatever it is worth.

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

[RyannB]

I am so afraid for Makenna right now.

[rjvpmn]

Just wondering if this will create any safety concerns for parents traveling there. We may travel in a couple wks.