Family Adopting Baby Encounters Political Red Tape
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DYERSBURG, Tenn. — A West Tennessee family is fighting to bring their son home, while being caught in an international adoption conflict. Jason and April Lloyd say they’re waiting for the day when their adopted son can come home. “It is the fight of our lives to get our son home,” April said. The Lloyds began the adoption process for Samuel, an infant from the Democratic Republic of Congo, in November of 2012 through Little Miracles International. In August, after more than $40,000 of adoption fees, they became his legal parents. But there was a political problem; the family can’t get him out of the country without an exit letter. A month later, the Lloyds say they received a letter from the Congolese government, stating they temporarily stopped issuing exit letters, because they worried about the children’s safety in america. On Thursday, Samuel celebrated his 1st birthday. Although he wasn’t able to share it with the Lloyds, they still had a cake and toys to celebrate. The Lloyds are not alone – several other families, including 15 in Tennessee, have started an online petition with more than 100,000 signatures to help bring babies like Samuel home to their adopted parents.
