Investigative journalist and adoption expert Erin Siegal uncovers multiple human rights violations and organized crime
NEW YORK, NY (November 15, 2011)—For the first time, the extent of fraud, corruption, and child trafficking in international adoption between Guatemala and the United States has been credibly determined. Thousands of previously-unreleased government documents obtained by investigative journalist Erin Siegal from the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala paint a vivid picture of what, exactly, the U.S. government knew about criminal wrongdoing in adoption, including kidnapping, orphan "laundering," and even the murder of birth mothers.

"Child trafficking in international adoption is a multi-jurisdictional crime that is extremely difficult for governments to investigate and prosecute," says Siegal. "Because of regulatory lapses and such jurisdictional gaps, it remains entirely possible to traffic "adoptable orphans" for profit with near-total impunity."

From 2003-2008, 20...