Households adopting internationally face extra hurdles with Trump’s newest journey bans

Washington — Hundreds of American households and the kids they’re within the technique of adopting from overseas are in a wait-and-see mode after President Trump’s newest journey ban and visa freeze protecting dozens of nations — in contrast to previous journey bans — made no blanket exceptions for worldwide adoption visas, advocacy teams and bipartisan lawmakers say.

The State Department circulated new steering Wednesday saying youngsters being adopted by U.S. residents might qualify for an exception underneath the National Interest Exception on a “case-by-case” foundation. The division “will consider such requests on a priority basis,” in keeping with steering obtained by CBS News.

The new steering, adoption teams and households say, is a step in the fitting course, however they’re additionally asking for adoptions to be exempt mechanically. 

“Intercountry adoption remains a high priority for the administration, and adoption-related visas will continue to be processed as expeditiously as possible,” the not-yet-released State Department steering reads. “Additionally, because overall visa volumes have decreased following the [visa freeze], many consular offices now have increased capacity to assist with adoption cases.”

Still, members of Congress from each events who sit on the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Caucus and adoption nonprofit teams are urging the administration to make categorical exemptions for adoptions, slightly than case-by-case allowances. 

Mr. Trump expanded his journey ban in December, barring or closely proscribing journey to the U.S. from 39 international locations. A month later, the administration indefinitely froze immigrant visas for nationals of 75 international locations, together with Somalia, Yemen and Jamaica, as a result of it mentioned individuals from these international locations are deemed more likely to depend on public help.

Unlike previous restrictions which have exempted visas for worldwide adoptions so youngsters can be part of their new households within the U.S., Mr. Trump’s superseding journey ban and visa freeze do not grant exceptions for adoption-related visas — IR-3, IR-4, IH-3 and IH-4 visas. 

The National Council for Adoption estimates the most recent restrictions are halting the instances of greater than 1,000 youngsters in over 40 international locations.

Adoption advocacy teams just like the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and the National Council for Adoption have been encouraging Americans to name their representatives and push for an answer, though the National Council for Adoption thanked the Trump administration for the up to date steering. 

“National Council For Adoption is grateful to the Trump administration for prioritizing international adoption and clarifying recent updates to the visa process,” mentioned Amy Wolfe, interim CEO of the National Council For Adoption. “Every vulnerable child, regardless of their country of origin, deserves the chance to be welcomed into a loving, permanent family. We’re thankful the president has reinforced his support for U.S. families adopting children from overseas and the longstanding tradition that adoption establishes a permanent parent-child relationship under U.S. law.”

The Trump administration did not provide a proof for the dearth of a categorical adoption exemption when the journey restrictions have been issued. The State Department didn’t reply to a request for remark. 

The co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Caucus — Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Republican Rep. Robert Aderholt and Democratic Rep. Danny Davis — wrote a letter final week to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Assistant Secretary of State Mora Namdar. They requested fast steering for households on methods to transfer ahead, in addition to everlasting visa exemptions for adoptions. 

“In June 2025, the administration placed travel restrictions on several countries with explicit exemptions for adoption visas,” the bipartisan group of lawmakers wrote within the letter. “On December 16, 2025, a new order was issued, superseding the previous directive and no longer including these exceptions for adoption visas. This has introduced uncertainty for children and American parents who have waited years for their adoptions to be completed and were preparing to bring their children home.” 

“These children have already waited a long time for a permanent, safe and loving family, and we are concerned about additional time they will be separated from the parents who have committed to love and care for them. We are hopeful — in line with the administration’s previous policy — you can move expeditiously to address this situation to ensure these children are united with their adoptive parents.” 

Kenton and Heidi Snyder of Illinois are one of many many units of ready dad and mom. 

For six years, they labored and waited to convey the woman they have been matched with in China again to the U.S. to hitch them and their three boys. But the COVID-19 pandemic and China’s subsequent resolution to finish adoption packages in 2024 meant they did not get to select her up on the orphanage and produce her house. In 2024, they started the method to undertake a now-3-year-old woman from Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa, hoping that they might convey each ladies to the U.S. They’ve named the 3-year-old woman Eden. 

After all of the setbacks within the adoption course of, Heidi Snyder thought buying a U.S. visa for her on the U.S. Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire can be the simple half. They have been nearly by means of the entire logistical and authorized hurdles. But Côte d’Ivoire is likely one of the 75 international locations affected by the visa suspensions the president introduced earlier this month. 

“We heard about it but we both kind of blew it off and said, ‘Well that won’t apply to adoptions,'” Heidi Snyder mentioned. “We just couldn’t believe that it would.”

It did. 

“That brought a whole tornado of emotions,” she added. “But I think all along we’ve been hopeful that maybe this was just kind of an oversight, because the administration has always been very supportive of foster care and adoption.”

The Snyders mentioned Wednesday’s steering was encouraging. 

“I think we can speak for all of the families that have been waiting with bated breath that we are just really grateful that they have responded quickly and that it’s apparent that they recognize the importance of adoption to American families,” Heidi Snyder mentioned. “And we look forward to getting all the details.”

Kenton Snyder is optimistic, however cautious, after almost seven years of ready. He mentioned it was a “huge relief” to obtain optimistic information. 

“But also just being maybe a little bit hesitant,” he mentioned. “Not wanting to speculate too much on what it is and what it is not.”

“I think if there is one thing that we could ask for, we would love for there to be a categorical exemption listed on the proclamation so that there is no doubt,” Heidi Snyder mentioned. “The adoption visas should not be included or bundled with all of these other visa bans or pauses. And we respect the administration’s desire for national security and all those things, but it doesn’t apply to adoptions.”