Comments on: Visa Issues in the News

By: Jenn

Jenn — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:30:45 +0000

I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure that Boxer is helping families that are outside of her state. There was a news article that she was helping a number of families and I’m 99% sure that at least one of them was from the eastern part of the U. S. I, too, am not a big fan of hers (or Feinstein for that matter) but I do admire the fact that they have looked at the paperwork, reviewed the situations, and are acting on what they feel is right. To do so for their constituents is one thing, you expect your government officials to assist you. Living in the mid-west, though, I would not be expecting her help. I would have to think it is something they feel strongly about to assist outside their area.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:27:33 +0000

Jane- Thanks for bringing up a point and shedding a new light in view of this situation. I did not think of it that way. I am usually not a fan of Barbara Boxer, or Feinstein for that matter, but in this case they are acting on behalf of their constituents. Yes, the children are important….but if the Vietnamese government has allowed the adoption to take place after their findings (and I doubt the Vietnamese government wants corruption on their end either) then Boxer and Feinstein are doing their jobs. Different way of looking at the situation. Thanks for that insight.

By: jane

jane — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:18:39 +0000

I think people are losing sight of the forest for the trees here. Of course Senators Boxer and Feinstein are acting on behalf of the families. The families are their constituents. They are not eelcted officials of Vietnam representing Vietnamese children. Or, looking at it differently, the Vietnamese government already has allowed the adoption to go through and the children are part of the US families who adopted them. Why shouldn’t a US Senator assist a US family in bringing home their newly adopted child?

By: Jena

Jena — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:16:38 +0000

What I really want to know is who is acting on behalf on these children, clearly not our government, their government or the agencies that “found” them…

By: Alix

Alix — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:21:20 +0000

This case troubles me more than the other NOIDs cases because it is very upsetting to hear/read that the US government can’t arrive at a uniform decision. I think a NOID is a sad, heartbreaking event for PAPs. But to be caught between two US agencies? I don’t get it. And I’m really surprised it’s gone this far. I would’ve thought that at one point, someone at the DOS would’ve picked up the phone and called CIS and worked this out one way or the other. It certainly doesn’t inspire confidence in my government for me.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:24:11 +0000

WOW - how’s that for political pressure?! I just hope Boxer goes into these meetings with an open-mind, gets answers, and does what’s truly *right* on behalf of the BABIES. Right now it sounds like she’s acting on behalf of the a-families, not necessarily the orphans in Vietnam. Not that I’m convinced the DOS has the best interest of each individual orphan in mind either. This is one screwed up program, and it’s just really really sad how apparent that is becoming.

It is interesting that CIS and the State Dept. do not seemingly support one another. I have heard of several cases where the DOS told families that regardless of whether or not CIS recommends approval, they’ll still refuse to issue a visa. It makes no sense that these departments are not operating in a cooperative manner with each other. Clearly there’s more to these stories. I’d just like to know what more there is.