Baby Broker Adoptions
@nanette64 (20364)
Fairfield, Texas
February 5, 2016 10:04am CST
Dateline Mysteries did an undercover operation regarding adoption proceedings in Guatemala. Some of these babies and kids are actually stolen from the mothers while others are paid a paltry sum of money ($500) to give up their babies, while these "brokers" are paid $20,000 by people from the US in adoption fees.
Paperwork and birth certificates are forged and some of these agencies in the US are working directly with these brokers in other countries not really caring where the kids come from.
What I don't understand is that there are thousands of babies and kids right here in the US that need adopting. Why are parents-to-be looking outside of the US to adopt? It's certainly not cheaper and I don't think I would feel very good about adopting a baby or child that was stolen from their real parents.
11 people like this
10 responses
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
5 Feb 16
I'm adopted.
I know quite a bit about the laws etc here but not so much about the US although I'd suspect there are similarities.
My mum and dad had to go through all sorts of hoops back in 1976 and it hasn't got any easier since then.
Here in the UK there are many more people (currently) that want to adopt babies than there are babies available.
The general thing seems to be the older you get the less likely you are to be adopted...not always the case but it does seem to be that way very often.
In my opinion people go abroad to get babies for 2 main reasons.
Firstly the laws aren't as strict regarding vetting prospective parents.
Secondly,money can often be used to "grease the wheels" in the adoption process.
3 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
5 Feb 16
Very true @Mike197602 . And it is sad when older kids are overlooked. Can you imagine being in the 'system' for 18 years and then just thrown out and told to figure it out?
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
5 Feb 16
@Mike197602 It is so sad, it breaks your heart. My Mom was adopted as a baby to a Czech couple. She did find out in later life who her real parents were.
2 people like this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
5 Feb 16
@nanette64 I can't imagine it but I've worked in childrens homes and later for a 16+ shelter which had a lot of ex care kids in it.
It's not a great life in many cases.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
5 Feb 16
That is terrible! Its is most likely the legal system here in the USA. they are very strict.
3 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
5 Feb 16
I think here, they just want the kids to go to a good home @andriaperry . Anywhere else it's just a question of money.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
5 Feb 16
It does puzzle the mind as to why more children are not adopted who reside here in the USA. Are our adoption laws so restrictive that they cannot?
3 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
5 Feb 16
Maybe the laws are tougher @ElusiveButterfly but that may be because they want to make sure that the child is going to a 'good' home. Maybe what these countries need to start thinking about is 'birth control'. If you can't take care of a baby, don't get pregnant.
3 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
6 Feb 16
That is almost turning out to be a common thing today @jstory07 . I think it's wrong.
@LadyDuck (457173)
• Switzerland
5 Feb 16
I do not know how the adoption system works in the United States, in some countries they are so strict that it takes many years to adopt a child, while going through those agencies you have them immediately. The reason is always the same, bad politics.
3 people like this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
7 Mar 16
You know it wouldn't surprise me if some of theses parents don't know weather theses kids are stolen that their getting.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
11 Mar 16
@nanette64 Definitely I sure would.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
7 Mar 16
I know what you mean @softbabe44 . To me, if I'm shelling out $20, 30, 50 THOUSAND dollars to someone for a child, I'd think I would question that.
@allknowing (130067)
• India
6 Feb 16
Probably it is difficult to steal in the US 
Adoption is a cumbersome procedure all over the world and these parents may not want to go through it all
Adoption is a cumbersome procedure all over the world and these parents may not want to go through it all1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
5 Feb 16
People look for babies overseas because so many of the kids available for adoption in the US are older children, or children of the "wrong" color. A friend of mine who recently adopted told me there is a long waiting list of couples waiting for Caucasian babies.
1 person likes this
