Message from the Executive Director - Advocating for Adoptee Exception for Travel Ban and Original Birth Certificate Access

Adopt International is asking for a call to action to advocate for Adoptee Exempt to Travel Ban and Access to Original Birth Certificate in California.

Message from Adopt International's Executive Director, Lisa Clark, dated 1/17/2026

As we go into this weekend celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights he fought for I'm asking that you take a few minutes to fight for adoptees in two ways:

1. Advocating for an Adoption exception for the Immigration Travel Ban to allow for Adoptee Visas

2. Advocating for Original Birth Certificate Access in California

Immigration Travel Ban's Affect on Adoptive Families

On December 16, 2025 Trump issued a travel ban that removed a previous exemption for adoption visas. This essentially means that adoptees' visa requests to enter the US with their adoptive parents will be denied. That ban went into effect January 1, 2026.

I've been in meetings with USCIS, written to the Office of Children Issues, and organized meetings with other agency Directors about what this means for families and children and what we as a community can do. This ban disregards the International Hague Treaty (to which the US is a signatory), and in some cases has created orphans of children whose adoptions were already completed but who just hadn't yet received their US visas. 

We estimate there are over 300 impacted families, some of whom are now stuck abroad with no way to move forward in bringing their children home.  

In the meeting with USCIS I asked about a process for appeal or exceptions and was told not only that they do not have a process in place yet but that the only exceptions would be for "national interests". Apparently World Cup and Olympic players' visas are still being processed. When I wrote to many people at the Department of State, Office of Children's Issues my emails went unanswered.  

On January 14, 2026, the Dept of State issued another visa announcement banning additional countries, now totaling 75 countries. The ban for added countries goes into effect January 21, again with no exemption for children or adoption.

We believe we have 14 impacted families and are aware of 2 of our families who are already in country. One hopes to get their baby's visa on the 19th and one will not make the deadline.

We have many colleagues with worse stories. Most of our families who are impacted are trying to adopt a relative, a child who has already experienced a lot of trauma in losing one or both parents. I'm disgusted by our government and the lack of care for children and families.

I'm hoping you will join me in making our voices heard.

Please take 60 seconds and visit the National Council For Adoption advocacy hub. Simply input your street address and zip code (no post-office boxes) and easily send an email to your federal lawmakers: https://adoptioncouncil.org/advocacy/action-center/#/31

Please share this link with friends and family and on social media.

The Importance of Original Birth Certificate Access

My second ask for your support and advocacy is specific to California and one that is embarrassingly overdue. People are often shocked to hear that California still has closed adoption records, meaning adoptees don’t have access to their original birth certificates.

Adoptees deserve the fundamental human right to their own identity. 

Please call or email your state senators (you can input your mailing address to find your state senator here) to express your support for CA Senate Bill 381, which would allow adult adoptees in California to have unrestricted access to their Original Birth Certificates (OBC).

You can also sign and share the petition co-sponsored by CAAR and CUB urging California to join the 16 other states that have already passed similar legislation: https://www.change.org/p/provide-unrestricted-access-to-original-birth-certificates-to-california-born-adoptees. 

I've been patient, tried to understand the legalities and not overreact. I've cried, I've organized within my own leadership community.

And now I'm asking that our greater adoption community step in. Use your voice so we can all be heard.

I hope you will join us in showing our children (young and old) that we are willing to stand up for them and their rights to love, family and identity.

I'll keep you all posted as these advocacy efforts move forward. Much love!

Lisa Clark, Executive Director, Adopt International

Welcome to Adopt International

If you found this article useful, you might also find this useful: Adoption Tax Credit 2025, Adoption Tax Credit FAQs, What is open adoption?

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