Indiana Delegation Asks Obama To Act On Congolese Adoptions

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana's congressional delegation is asking President Barack Obama to prod authorities in the African nation of Congo to allow more than 400 orphaned children legally adopted by Americans to join those families in the United States.

The 11-member delegation asked Obama in a letter sent Tuesday to call Congo's president and ask that he "swiftly and thoroughly" resolve the exit permit process that's been stalled since 2013.

The letter says Indiana has more Congolese children, 27 of them, than any other state "stranded" in Congo after being adopted.

Fourteen of those youngsters' adoptions were handled by Indianapolis-based adoption agency MLJ Adoptions International.

Executive Director Nicole Skellenger says those children "are spending some of their most important years of development without the permanent and loving care of their family."

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