Does “underground adoption” mean that a child is in danger?
Question by cococremejuju: Does “underground adoption” mean that a child is in danger?
Do only bad people with evil intentions work for an underground adoption agency? Does that mean that the adoptive parents will be evil too? Or can the outcomes be good for a child that was sold to an “underground adoption agency.” Just concerned as to why they call it “underground.”
Yes, Gypsy, if you hadn’t notice a lot of my questions are referring to the “Baby Gabriel case” including this question.
Best answer:
Answer by love my life
It is called underground because it is done outside the legal boundaries or government guidelines, under the radar so to speak. And no it does not mean the the adoptive parents will be evil, and yes the outcome for the child can be good. Just as some are bad for those who go through the proper channels.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Yes, I would conclude that a child is in danger when he/she has fell victim to “underground adoption”. And I also believe that both the mother of the child (the seller) and the potential adoptive parents (the buyers) are Both evil and Both breaking the law, with no regard whatsoever for the baby/child’s life and well-being that they are selling and buying. The “Baby Gabriel” case is a prime example of..
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/02/09/crimesider/entry6190388.shtml
“”On Sunday, he and his family met with an adoption expert who often consults with the FBI in the world of underground adoptions, and learned some startling connections, according to CBS affiliate KPHO.”"
“”According to the expert, who asked not to be identified, The Homegate Hotel, where Elizabeth Johnson stayed in San Antonio, is well known in adoption circles. Agencies put girls up there for meetings with families and to complete paperwork, the expert said.
The last known photos of Gabriel were taken at the hotel. In one of the images, the boy is holding a prescription drug container. In another, his eyelids are eerily half closed. “”
It’s dangerous for a child to be adopted to a family who has not completed a homestudy and who do not have any kind of supervision by a legitimate authority. If those requirements are not met, the child is potentially unsafe. So it depends on if you’re talking about legal private adoption within the state’s guidelines, which is sometimes called “underground” but really isn’t, or something less regulated. Unregulated and secret adoptions are VERY dangerous, and can even cross the border into being human trafficking.
The people involved don’t always have outright evil intentions. Some do: some are in it for the money or know the children may be placed in bad situations, and some want a child for an inappropriate purpose, but a few genuinely think they’re helping. They aren’t really helping, but they’re guilty of being misguided in some cases, not always malice. However, someone who is misguided can do just as much damage, so that doesn’t really make things better in any practical way. And the flip side is, just because someone seems nice, doesn’t mean you should put aside your better judgment if the situation seems off.
The outcome will not necessarily be something dramatic like murder or abuse (though it could be, without appropriate checks in place,) and perhaps in some cases could be construed as “good,” but that doesn’t mean it’s an acceptable process. Just because something doesn’t do outright horrific damage to every single person doesn’t mean it’s worth the risk. And in this case, it definitely isn’t.
I would advise you to stay WELL away from any kind of “underground adoption” or “rehoming” process that doesn’t comply with the law. You should steer clear of any adoption situation that isn’t transparent, legal, and acceptable to the authorities, regardless of whether you’re trying to adopt or place your child. Even if in your particular situation nothing bad happens, it’s wrong to support a process that puts children in danger. Please only pursue adoption through legal channels.
Adoption should never be about the money, but about children who need homes. And circumventing the law in adoption is not acceptable regardless of your motives.
It means they are breaking the law and should be punished as criminals.
Are the Aps evil for evading the law……I would say they are demented criminals endangering the lives of children. Anything that happens to the children should be done to them.
I would assume that anyone who resorts to using “underground” means to adopt a child is hiding something or doing something wrong, otherwise they could stay above the table and do things the right way.
“Underground” just means that they are doing it against the law, and that it is unknown by the proper authorities. It means that the adoption isn’t legal.
I don’t care what the intentions are, the law is the law. The law pertaining to children is very important and shouldn’t be discarded just so someone can have a child through any means necessary.
If I ever heard of a person involved in this, I would call the police immediately. Regardless of how ‘good or evil’ the people are, it’s not legal and I can’t imagine anyone would want to give their child up for adoption using an ‘underground’ route… seems VERY sketchy and scary.
My first inkling would be that the child was stolen… of course I could be totally wrong there.
There are enough flaws in the legal adoption processes… nothing about underground agencies makes me comfortable in the least.
The term “underground” is a current term for what used to be called “black market” adoptions.
These are/were adoptions that were done outside of the law, and so were not legal.
Any number of illegal and harmful practices can be part of the scenario.
Pregnant women have been lured with offers of help, only to find themselves trapped with no way to get out. Babies have been stolen. Mothers have been told their children had died, when in fact, they were still alive but had been sold into adoption.
Some of the adoptive parents get involved because they can get what they want…a newborn, with no way to trace the biological parents. These ‘adoptions” can be done quickly because legal channels are not being followed that protect children and parents from unnecessary separation. Fathers’ rights may be ignored, for example. .
These illegal adoptions are very expensive..it is money that greases the path..and enables people to adopt who might not otherwise qualify.
One reason why some adoptive parents go this route is because they have been turned down by licensed adoption agencies.Pre-adoptive parents are usually required to submit to a background check. If they have a criminal history, they will probably be turned away. These are some of the people who may seek out an “underground” arrangement.
Adoption has enough problems ..but these ‘adoptions” are truly frightening.
some times baby girl the underground can be useful.it can help kids that has problems with there home.and also if they have parents that are in your words evil.by having the underground to help them get a way.from that kind of stuff.but some times it was used for evil.but it was more good than evil ok.your friend fred
Another thing that the adoption “Underground” is used for is to sort of informally recycle children. This is done VERY covertly, since it is illegal, and a great many of the children in this ‘underground” are IA’s.
People who are willing to go outside the law in adoption as in other areas are dangerous people. Their disregard for the rules that govern Other People and their own feeling that they are above the laws and that the rules only apply to other people, as the Missionaries in Haiti, makes them dangerous.
Eventually, a child grows up. They will need papers that allow them in to schools, in to government programs, into social security, and to obtain passports, drivers license, and etc. These things will require that their paperwork is in order. The people who shortcut the rules have little regard for the future out come for the children, simply being concerned with having THEIR need for a child!
Yes, I would say that for all the reasons that have been stated in the other responses and in my own, “UNderground Adoption” means that a child is in danger…whether now or later.
This is pretty much identical to human trafficking.