Guatemala Adoption Boom Creates Controversy

“Every year, thousands of people from the United States visit the Central American nation of Guatemala, not just for tourism, but to adopt babies. Last year, more than 4,000 Guatemalan children were adopted by US citizens. But critics say the demand for young Guatemalan children has created an illicit market in which babies are bought and sold and, in some cases, even stolen from their birth mothers. VOA’s Greg Flakus has more from Guatemala City.

In some Guatemala City hotels, there are special play rooms for babies and the parents who are staying there while finalizing the adoption process. Acquiring a baby here usually costs around $30,000, although the US embassy has evidence of local lawyers milking adopting parents for as much as $70,000. Since the adoption process in Guatemala is so lacking in controls, stories of abuse are abundant.”

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