Finally... WE ARE IN PGN!

And we're scared to DEATH! This is somewhere you want to hurry up and get to, then you get there, and well it's just pure dread. This is where BAD things happen to cases. When I got my update this morning, I was so excited and then I just felt sick. The Family Court typo was fixed on November 7 and we entered PGN on November 8.

If we don't get a previo (a kick out - which puts you back to the bottom of the pile when you reenter) and with the holidays coming up we might be lucky enough to get OUT around January 10 (assuming there is a Grandfather Clause and things don't slow to much). But, if we get previos and such, and with all that may happen on January 1, we have no idea when we will get OUT. Just can't possibly even guess.

Think good thoughts, say prayers, send good vibes....THANKS!

Thanks for nothing Condi...

A big bunch of nothing from the Department of State...

November 8, 2007

The Department of State has received inquiries about the status of anticipated adoption reforms in Guatemala, and the outlook for adoption cases which are currently pending. Whether the Guatemalan government elects to implement the Hague Convention on December 31st or later in the spring of 2008, pending cases would not be affected if, as expected, the final legislation includes a transition provision that allows pending cases to be processed to conclusion under current law. We continue to advise American Citizens not to initiate new adoptions until the Government of Guatemala has completed its implementation of the Hague Convention.

Adoption reform legislation remains under discussion in Guatemala’s Congress. We continue to advocate for a law that complies with the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption and that includes transition provisions for cases already filed under the current system of law.

Passage of a new adoption law is only the first step. The next, urgent priority will be for Guatemalan officials to establish a Hague compliant system. Designing and implementing the necessary structural reforms will take time.

The Guatemalan Government has said it will assume its obligations as a Hague Convention member on December 31, 2007, a decision we support, because Guatemala’s children -- indeed all parties to an international adoption -- deserve the protections afforded by the Convention as soon as possible. When the Hague Convention goes into force for the U.S. in the spring of 2008, both the U.S. and Guatemala must have Hague-compliant adoption procedures in order for new adoption cases to be filed. Thus in the interest of long-term adoptions from Guatemala, responsible, prompt reform of the current law and procedures is critically important. The U.S. is committed to provide assistance and support to the Guatemalan authorities for this task.

The Other Shoe Drops?

There have been some reports that Consul General John Lowell (a higher-up at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala) may be lobbying the Guatemalan Congress in favor of Ortega and of a January 1 date for Hague implementation. It's also possible that the U.S. Ambassador may also be lobbying for the same thing.

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Here is a form for those of you who would like to send such a fax or e-mail once again to your appropriate Congressman and Senators, but it would be better if you used your own words:

Dear Senator/Congressman/Congresswoman _____,

I am a constituent writing to ask for your help. As you know, almost 4,000 American families are in the process of adopting a child from Guatemala. The Guatemalan Congress is now deciding how best to bring its adoption system into compliance with the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.

It has been reported in Guatemalan newspapers that the Consul General to the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, Mr. John Lowell, has been in contact with Guatemalan congressmen and political party leaders to lobby for a specific bill, the Ortega bill, that threatens to terminate or severely hinder in-process cases, putting the adoption cases of almost 4,000 Americans directly at risk. This, despite the fact that the Guatemalan Congress has indicated its clear intent to bring the Guatemalan adoption process in line with the requirements of the Hague treaty and the various options that are available to any country in developing a Hague-compliant procedure.

Mr. Lowell's actions, if as reported, are unconscionable. First, it is wholly improper for Mr. Lowell to interfere this way with the Guatemalan legislative process - Guatemala should be able to choose, without interference from Mr. Lowell or any other U.S. official, a process that involves both public and accredited private sector actors (like the one we will have in the U.S. when the U.S. implements the treaty next spring). Second, Mr. Lowell's actions are directly contrary to the best interests of the children in the adoption process and to the thousands of Americans who would be adversely affected by the passage of the Ortega bill.

I ask you to take all appropriate action available to you to prompt Mr. Lowell and all U.S. officials in Guatemala to refrain from interfering with the Guatemalan political process regarding intercountry adoption.

[your signature]
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ALSO - MORE IMPORTANTLY:

Call and fax Condoleezza Rice's office and ask her to look into the above matter. She is Lowell's boss (after the Ambassador). We would like to know if John Lowell is acting independently in his interfering/lobbying the Guatemalan congress or is he acting at Secretary of State Rice's instruction?

Phone 202 647 5291
202 647 9572

Fax 202 647 228
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Once again, thank you for your help!

Good News...A New Proposal!

I don't know if this is just Guatemalan politics playing out, or if the 5000 families made an impact (or both), but I woke up this morning with this announcement:

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JCICS (www.jcics.org) has just formally announced the following:

We can now report that members of the Guatemalan Congress, including numerous party chiefs, have submitted a new legislative proposal which:

- includes a strong ‘grandfather’ clause,

-designates April 30 2008 as the effective implementation date of the Convention,

-allocates $5 million Quetzales ($650,000 USD) for the creation of the Central Authority,

-allocates a percentage of the total government budget for child welfare services

-creates a new government entity to act as the Central Authority in Guatemala,

-provides for private non-profit accredited entities to provide services to children,

-allows single potential adoptive parents to apply for adoption,

-and creates a functional process by which children can find a permanent, safe and loving family
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For Natalie specificially, this could mean that we would be grandfathered (not sure of any specifics) - and with the Hague not being implemented until April (when the US is supposed to implement) - it give us four more months to get the heck out fo there.

THIS IS ONLY A PROPOSAL AND HAS NOT BEEN VOTED ON YET. We are just ecstatic that their Congress has at least acknowledged many of the issues we were concerned about.

It's at least a step in the right direction and gives us some major hope. Woooo Hoooo!!!!!