INHOFE, NICKLES ANNOUNCE CAMBODIAN ADOPTIONS CAN PROCEED
INHOFE, NICKLES ANNOUNCE CAMBODIAN ADOPTIONS CAN PROCEED
Those Seeking Adoptions Can Complete Process
Wednesday, September 11, 2002
WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Tulsa) and Don Nickles (R-Ponca City) announced today that the Immigration and Naturalization Service will allow American families who were in the process of adopting Cambodian children to move forward with their adoption requests. Many families were in the process of adopting children from Cambodia last year when an INS suspension on adoptions from that country interrupted the process.
“This is the right decision for these families who have been left in limbo for these last nine months,” Nickles said. “I am particularly delighted that this decision will now allow the Rudolph family from Oklahoma to proceed with their adoption. I wish them all the best in this endeavor and commend them and all adoptive families for their willingness to open their homes and hearts to children from around the world who have no family to call their own.”
“As the grandfather of an adopted child, I know the hope and anticipation that comes with the adoption process,” Inhofe said. “I am pleased that this action by the INS will bring happiness to so many families and a better life to so many children. The Rudolph family is in for much joy as they continue along with this process in an attempt to add to their family.”
Inhofe and Nickles are both members of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption.
On December 21, 2001 the INS imposed a suspension on all adoptions from Cambodia after problems were suspected within the Cambodian adoption system. Several hundred American families were in the process of adopting Cambodian children at that time and their adoptions were left incomplete.
As a result of today's action, all families who had filed an I-600A form, which is the application form required to request an international adoption, before December 31, 2001 will be allowed to complete the necessary processes to adopt a Cambodian child.
Though the suspension on Cambodian adoptions is still in effect, the U.S. is continuing to work with the government of that country to create a more transparent adoption system that will better protect birth parents, children and adoptive parents. ###
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