Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, along with Rhode Island Congressman Jim Langevin, introduced new legislation aimed at addressing the disturbing issue of “re-homing” unwanted adopted children using private Internet forums. H.R. 4704 would expand the scope of the existing Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which operates under the Department of Justice, to include the illegal transfer of children.
Once the Reuters investigation of re-homing broke last year, Congresswoman Johnson saw this as an immediate area that needed to be addressed. Families involved in this unregulated and underground practice connect through internet groups. These networks make dubious or outright illegal arrangements to give away their adopted children to strangers, often across state lines, with little or no legal documentation, and in some cases, with forged or fake documents.
“The practice of illicit re-homing must stop. Many vulnerable children are hurt by this practice,” said a concerned Congresswoman Johnson. “We must empower the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force with strong legislation to combat these heinous acts. Legal adoption is a judicious process that ensures the careful vetting of prospective families and homes fit for a child. The Illegal transfer of children completely undermines this process and puts too many children and families at risk.”
In addition to the direct harm to children, re-homing abuses have also lead countries to suspend adoptions by parents in the United States. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, hundreds of approved inter-country adoptions are being suspended, partly, because reports of abuse and re-homing have surfaced.
“In order to ensure that the United States is a safe place for children adopted internationally, action is required,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “Law enforcement must be able to find and prosecute these offenses, and we must put a stop to the underground market for children whose adoptive parents have decided they no longer wanted them. Every child deserves to be legally placed in a loving home.”
