Haiti Adoption Debate Intensifies

The debate is laced with emotion and urgency: Adoptions in the midst of the chaos in Haiti increase the risk of human trafficking and mistakes, but if action isn't taken soon, children may end up in institutions or on the streets. Although the 10 Americans arrested for alleged kidnapping say they were only trying to help, their actions have sparked a backlash and a closer look into international adoption. "Maybe the Americans thought they were helping 33 kids, but now there's going to be a much slower process and maybe even a ban on future adoptions—and that would be a tragedy," said an executive of the National Council for Adoption. Although there are upsides and downsides to expedited adoption, the Haitian government is approaching the issue cautiously to avoid situations similar to the recent arrests.