+---------+------------------------------------------------------------+
|         | Declaration of Mary A. Ryan,\                              |
|         | Assistant Secreary of State for Consular Affairs\          |
|         | As released by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department  |
|         | of State, April 6, 2000                                    |
+---------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| I, Mary |                                                            |
| A.      |                                                            |
| Ryan,   |                                                            |
| hereby  |                                                            |
| declare |                                                            |
| as      |                                                            |
| f       |                                                            |
| ollows: |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 1.  I   |                                                            |
|     am  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     As  |                                                            |
| sistant |                                                            |
|     Se  |                                                            |
| cretary |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   State |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|     C   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Affairs |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     Dep |                                                            |
| artment |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  State, |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| osition |                                                            |
|     I   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| assumed |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     May |                                                            |
|     12  |                                                            |
| , 1993. |                                                            |
|     I   |                                                            |
|     am  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    also |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  career |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  member |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Foreign |                                                            |
|     S   |                                                            |
| ervice, |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|     I   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    hold |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    rank |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Career |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Amba |                                                            |
| ssador. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Since |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| joining |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Foreign |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Service |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   1966, |                                                            |
|     I   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    held |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| variety |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    assi |                                                            |
| gnments |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Latin |                                                            |
|     A   |                                                            |
| merica, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Africa, |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Middle |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   East, |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| States. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   These |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|     i   |                                                            |
| ncluded |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     man |                                                            |
| agement |                                                            |
|     po  |                                                            |
| sitions |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Presi |                                                            |
| dential |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    appo |                                                            |
| intment |                                                            |
|     as  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     Amb |                                                            |
| assador |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     Swa |                                                            |
| ziland. |                                                            |
|     I   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    make |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    this |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    decl |                                                            |
| aration |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   based |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    info |                                                            |
| rmation |                                                            |
|     av  |                                                            |
| ailable |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     me  |                                                            |
|     as  |                                                            |
|     As  |                                                            |
| sistant |                                                            |
|     Se  |                                                            |
| cretary |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|     C   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Affairs |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     my  |                                                            |
|     thi |                                                            |
| rty-fou |                                                            |
| r-years |                                                            |
|     exp |                                                            |
| erience |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     dip |                                                            |
| lomatic |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| service |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| States. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| ```     |                                                            |
| {=html} |                                                            |
| <       |                                                            |
| !-- --> |                                                            |
| ```     |                                                            |
| 1.  I   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  submit |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    this |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    decl |                                                            |
| aration |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     con |                                                            |
| nection |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ecision |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    made |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Commi |                                                            |
| ssioner |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Immi |                                                            |
| gration |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Natural |                                                            |
| ization |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Service |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  (INS), |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| atified |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     A   |                                                            |
| ttorney |                                                            |
|     G   |                                                            |
| eneral, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   six-y |                                                            |
| ear-old |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Cuban |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  child, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Elian |                                                            |
|     G   |                                                            |
| onzalez |                                                            |
|     B   |                                                            |
| rotons, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  should |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| eturned |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     his |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  father |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Cuba. |                                                            |
|     The |                                                            |
|     Dep |                                                            |
| artment |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   State |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  expect |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|     gov |                                                            |
| ernment |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    make |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    same |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ecision |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| respect |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     an  |                                                            |
|     A   |                                                            |
| merican |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Elian |                                                            |
|     G   |                                                            |
| onzalez |                                                            |
|     Br  |                                                            |
| otons\' |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| circums |                                                            |
| tances. |                                                            |
|     The |                                                            |
|     INS |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ecision |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    also |                                                            |
|     con |                                                            |
| sistent |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     pri |                                                            |
| nciples |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     Dep |                                                            |
| artment |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   State |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    seek |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|     f   |                                                            |
| ollowed |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   cases |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
| volving |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   whose |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| custody |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| isputed |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| between |                                                            |
|     two |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| arents, |                                                            |
|     one |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   other |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     has |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    been |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  taken. |                                                            |
|     It  |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     my  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  belief |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| failure |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     im  |                                                            |
| plement |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     INS |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ecision |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   could |                                                            |
|     se  |                                                            |
| riously |                                                            |
|     pr  |                                                            |
| ejudice |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| ability |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     Gov |                                                            |
| ernment |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    help |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parents |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| recover |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   their |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   taken |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|     cou |                                                            |
| ntries. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 2.  As  |                                                            |
|     As  |                                                            |
| sistant |                                                            |
|     Se  |                                                            |
| cretary |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|     C   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|     A   |                                                            |
| ffairs, |                                                            |
|     I   |                                                            |
|     am  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  senior |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   State |                                                            |
|     Dep |                                                            |
| artment |                                                            |
|     o   |                                                            |
| fficial |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| charged |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|     exe |                                                            |
| rcising |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     Se  |                                                            |
| cretary |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     S   |                                                            |
| tate\'s |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| respons |                                                            |
| ibility |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| protect |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| provide |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|     s   |                                                            |
| ervices |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| itizens |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| abroad. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   These |                                                            |
|     s   |                                                            |
| ervices |                                                            |
|     are |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| rovided |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     Dep |                                                            |
| artment |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     S   |                                                            |
| tate\'s |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Bureau |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     C   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|     A   |                                                            |
| ffairs, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|     I   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   head, |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|     o   |                                                            |
| fficers |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   under |                                                            |
|     my  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| general |                                                            |
|     di  |                                                            |
| rection |                                                            |
|     who |                                                            |
|     are |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
| ssigned |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     em  |                                                            |
| bassies |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     con |                                                            |
| sulates |                                                            |
|     thr |                                                            |
| oughout |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  world. |                                                            |
|     C   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|     s   |                                                            |
| ervices |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| include |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    such |                                                            |
|     act |                                                            |
| ivities |                                                            |
|     as  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| issuing |                                                            |
|     pa  |                                                            |
| ssports |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     as  |                                                            |
| sisting |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| itizens |                                                            |
|     i   |                                                            |
| nvolved |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    emer |                                                            |
| gencies |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| outside |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| States, |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
| cluding |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| deaths, |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
| rrests, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| medical |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   emerg |                                                            |
| encies, |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   evacu |                                                            |
| ations. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 3.  A   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    subs |                                                            |
| tantial |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     e   |                                                            |
| ver-inc |                                                            |
| reasing |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  aspect |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Depart |                                                            |
| ment\'s |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    work |                                                            |
|     i   |                                                            |
| nvolves |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     pr  |                                                            |
| ovision |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     s   |                                                            |
| ervices |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     con |                                                            |
| nection |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|     ch  |                                                            |
| ildren. |                                                            |
|     We  |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ocument |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    born |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  abroad |                                                            |
|     as  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| itizens |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     rep |                                                            |
| atriate |                                                            |
|     de  |                                                            |
| stitute |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| runaway |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| citizen |                                                            |
|     ch  |                                                            |
| ildren. |                                                            |
|     We  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   issue |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   visas |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| adopted |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  abroad |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| citizen |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| arents; |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    seek |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| prevent |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  abuse, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   aband |                                                            |
| onment, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| neglect |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   explo |                                                            |
| itation |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| citizen |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| abroad; |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   issue |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     v   |                                                            |
| alidate |                                                            |
|     pa  |                                                            |
| ssports |                                                            |
|     so  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| citizen |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|     may |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  travel |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   their |                                                            |
|     par |                                                            |
| ent(s), |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   among |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   other |                                                            |
|     se  |                                                            |
| rvices. |                                                            |
|     We  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    also |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    seek |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| prevent |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| resolve |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   cases |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
| volving |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  intern |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| arental |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     abd |                                                            |
| uction. |                                                            |
|     In  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    this |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    conn |                                                            |
| ection, |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Office |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Chil |                                                            |
| dren\'s |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Issues |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Bureau |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     C   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Affairs |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  serves |                                                            |
|     as  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Central |                                                            |
|     Au  |                                                            |
| thority |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   under |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Article |                                                            |
|     6   |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Hague |                                                            |
|     Con |                                                            |
| vention |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Civil |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Aspects |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Intern |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Child |                                                            |
|     Ab  |                                                            |
| duction |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    (the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| \"Hague |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Convent |                                                            |
| ion\"). |                                                            |
|     As  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   such, |                                                            |
|     it  |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    resp |                                                            |
| onsible |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    coop |                                                            |
| erating |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Central |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Auth |                                                            |
| orities |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   other |                                                            |
|     co  |                                                            |
| untries |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     \   |                                                            |
| "secure |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  prompt |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     chi |                                                            |
| ldren\" |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   their |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   place |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     h   |                                                            |
| abitual |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| sidence |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   under |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Hague |                                                            |
|     Con |                                                            |
| vention |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    when |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    they |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    been |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   \"wro |                                                            |
| ngfully |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| removed |                                                            |
|     . . |                                                            |
|     .   |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     ret |                                                            |
| ained\" |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|     one |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parent, |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| achieve |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   other |                                                            |
|     obj |                                                            |
| ectives |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Hague |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Conv |                                                            |
| ention. |                                                            |
|     (Ge |                                                            |
| nerally |                                                            |
|     sp  |                                                            |
| eaking, |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     w   |                                                            |
| rongful |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| removal |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| tention |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  occurs |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    when |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   taken |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    kept |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| another |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     vi  |                                                            |
| olation |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| custody |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  rights |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    left |                                                            |
| -behind |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| arent.) |                                                            |
|     Our |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    work |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  behalf |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     ge  |                                                            |
| nerally |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
| itiated |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     pa  |                                                            |
| rent\'s |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| request |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    assi |                                                            |
| stance, |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   often |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  occurs |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| context |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     an  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  intern |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| custody |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| dispute |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
| volving |                                                            |
|     an  |                                                            |
|     A   |                                                            |
| merican |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  child. |                                                            |
|     As  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Central |                                                            |
|     Au  |                                                            |
| thority |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   under |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Hague |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Conv |                                                            |
| ention, |                                                            |
|     h   |                                                            |
| owever, |                                                            |
|     we  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    also |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  assist |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    gove |                                                            |
| rnments |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| seeking |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| brought |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     vi  |                                                            |
| olation |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| custody |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  rights |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  parent |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| ountry. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 4.  The |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    role |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|     o   |                                                            |
| fficers |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     pro |                                                            |
| tecting |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     rec |                                                            |
| ognized |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    1963 |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Vienna |                                                            |
|     Con |                                                            |
| vention |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     C   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|     Re  |                                                            |
| lations |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    (\"V |                                                            |
| CCR\"), |                                                            |
|     21  |                                                            |
|     UST |                                                            |
|     77, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| largely |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| odified |                                                            |
|     cu  |                                                            |
| stomary |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  intern |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|     law |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    now, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    over |                                                            |
|     160 |                                                            |
|     co  |                                                            |
| untries |                                                            |
|     as  |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| arties, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    sets |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   forth |                                                            |
|     we  |                                                            |
| ll-esta |                                                            |
| blished |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     ge  |                                                            |
| nerally |                                                            |
|     rec |                                                            |
| ognized |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    prin |                                                            |
| ciples. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Article |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    5(h) |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    VCCR |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   speci |                                                            |
| fically |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| rovides |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|     fu  |                                                            |
| nctions |                                                            |
|     i   |                                                            |
| nclude, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| \"safeg |                                                            |
| uarding |                                                            |
|     . . |                                                            |
|     .   |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
| terests |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  minors |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   other |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| persons |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| lacking |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    full |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| apacity |                                                            |
|     who |                                                            |
|     are |                                                            |
|     na  |                                                            |
| tionals |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| sending |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  State, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   parti |                                                            |
| cularly |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   where |                                                            |
|     any |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   guard |                                                            |
| ianship |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    trus |                                                            |
| teeship |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| equired |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| respect |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    such |                                                            |
|     per |                                                            |
| sons.\" |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Article |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  37 (b) |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    VCCR |                                                            |
|     ge  |                                                            |
| nerally |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| equires |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    \"co |                                                            |
| mpetent |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    auth |                                                            |
| orities |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| ceiving |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| State\" |                                                            |
|     (   |                                                            |
| *i.e*., |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|     n   |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  found) |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    \"to |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  inform |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     co  |                                                            |
| mpetent |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    post |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| without |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   delay |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     any |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    case |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   where |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    appo |                                                            |
| intment |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     g   |                                                            |
| uardian |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| trustee |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| appears |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
| terests |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   minor |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   other |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  person |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| lacking |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    full |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| apacity |                                                            |
|     who |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     n   |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| sending |                                                            |
|     S   |                                                            |
| tate.\" |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 5.  The |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  rights |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parents |                                                            |
|     are |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    also |                                                            |
|     rec |                                                            |
| ognized |                                                            |
|     i   |                                                            |
| nternat |                                                            |
| ionally |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    long |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    been |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| central |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| premise |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     our |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    work |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  behalf |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     Ame |                                                            |
| ricans. |                                                            |
|     It  |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   basic |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| precept |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     our |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    work |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parents |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     A   |                                                            |
| merican |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| citizen |                                                            |
|     ch  |                                                            |
| ildren, |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     Dep |                                                            |
| artment |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   State |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Gove |                                                            |
| rnment, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  should |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  decide |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    what |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    best |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   their |                                                            |
|     ch  |                                                            |
| ildren. |                                                            |
|     For |                                                            |
|     e   |                                                            |
| xample, |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
| lthough |                                                            |
|     use |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     pa  |                                                            |
| ssports |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  travel |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Libya |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Iraq |                                                            |
|     has |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    been |                                                            |
|     res |                                                            |
| tricted |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   under |                                                            |
|     22  |                                                            |
|     USC |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    211a |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| because |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   there |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     an  |                                                            |
|     \"i |                                                            |
| mminent |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  danger |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  public |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  health |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| hysical |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  safety |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   trave |                                                            |
| llers\" |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   those |                                                            |
|     cou |                                                            |
| ntries, |                                                            |
|     we  |                                                            |
|     v   |                                                            |
| alidate |                                                            |
|     pa  |                                                            |
| ssports |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  travel |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    such |                                                            |
|     co  |                                                            |
| untries |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   case- |                                                            |
| by-case |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  basis, |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| ursuant |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     22  |                                                            |
|     CFR |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  51.74. |                                                            |
|     We  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|     va  |                                                            |
| lidated |                                                            |
|     pa  |                                                            |
| ssports |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| citizen |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   being |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   taken |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Libya |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Iraq |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    live |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   their |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Libyan |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Iraqi |                                                            |
|     n   |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|     pa  |                                                            |
| rent(s) |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    (who |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    some |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   cases |                                                            |
|     are |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| married |                                                            |
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| merican |                                                            |
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| tizens) |                                                            |
|     who |                                                            |
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|     do  |                                                            |
| miciled |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  there. |                                                            |
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| cently, |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|     e   |                                                            |
| xample, |                                                            |
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|     p   |                                                            |
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| merican |                                                            |
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| rents.) |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
|  cases, |                                                            |
|     we  |                                                            |
|     act |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| premise |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     it  |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
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|   right |                                                            |
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|     to  |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     c   |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     or  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
|    than |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| States. |                                                            |
|     Mo  |                                                            |
| reover, |                                                            |
|     \"A |                                                            |
| merican |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| itizens |                                                            |
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|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     on  |                                                            |
|     F   |                                                            |
| ebruary |                                                            |
|     1,  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   1991, |                                                            |
|     who |                                                            |
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|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     are |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     p   |                                                            |
| assport |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   restr |                                                            |
| iction. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    This |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| permits |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    such |                                                            |
|     ci  |                                                            |
| tizens, |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
| cluding |                                                            |
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| citizen |                                                            |
|     ch  |                                                            |
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|     to  |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| ontinue |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     fa  |                                                            |
| milies, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| whether |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  family |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  multin |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  simply |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  deeply |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  rooted |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| ountry. |                                                            |
|     As  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| general |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| matter, |                                                            |
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|     i   |                                                            |
| ssuance |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     pa  |                                                            |
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|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  travel |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   minor |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| citizen |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     go  |                                                            |
| verned, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   under |                                                            |
|     Dep |                                                            |
| artment |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   State |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| lations |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     pr  |                                                            |
| actice, |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     of  |                                                            |
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|   their |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| arents. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 6.  The |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     at  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
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| refront |                                                            |
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|     the |                                                            |
|     pr  |                                                            |
| ovision |                                                            |
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|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
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|     its |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| itizens |                                                            |
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|     and |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     its |                                                            |
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|     on  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  behalf |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parents |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| seeking |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   their |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| States. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Because |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   other |                                                            |
|     co  |                                                            |
| untries |                                                            |
|     ca  |                                                            |
| refully |                                                            |
|     scr |                                                            |
| utinize |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     pr  |                                                            |
| actices |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| States, |                                                            |
|     our |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    cred |                                                            |
| ibility |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  effect |                                                            |
| iveness |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  depend |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    upon |                                                            |
|     our |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| ability |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     pri |                                                            |
| nciples |                                                            |
|     we  |                                                            |
|     e   |                                                            |
| spouse. |                                                            |
|     If  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   fails |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     act |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     acc |                                                            |
| ordance |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    such |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    prin |                                                            |
| ciples, |                                                            |
|     it  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    jeop |                                                            |
| ardizes |                                                            |
|     its |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| ability |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  insist |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     ad  |                                                            |
| herence |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   other |                                                            |
|     cou |                                                            |
| ntries. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Cons |                                                            |
| istency |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     pri |                                                            |
| nciples |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| ractice |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   parti |                                                            |
| cularly |                                                            |
|     im  |                                                            |
| portant |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| matters |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|     rel |                                                            |
| ations, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   where |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    enfo |                                                            |
| rcement |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  rights |                                                            |
|     so  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   often |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| depends |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    upon |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   recip |                                                            |
| rocity, |                                                            |
|     dip |                                                            |
| lomatic |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| ressure |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  negoti |                                                            |
| ations, |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   coope |                                                            |
| ration. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   These |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| conside |                                                            |
| rations |                                                            |
|     are |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| ritical |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| ability |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  obtain |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| States. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Over |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  years, |                                                            |
|     h   |                                                            |
| undreds |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    been |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| eturned |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   their |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parents |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| because |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   other |                                                            |
|     co  |                                                            |
| untries |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    been |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| willing |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| respect |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   basic |                                                            |
|     pri |                                                            |
| nciples |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  intern |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|     law |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  custom |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    and, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    when |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    appl |                                                            |
| icable, |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| elevant |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  treaty |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   oblig |                                                            |
| ations. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 7       |                                                            |
| .  When |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   young |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   found |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| ountry, |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
| ccepted |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  intern |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| ractice |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| attempt |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     i   |                                                            |
| dentify |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hild\'s |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  parent |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     par |                                                            |
| ent(s), |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  person |                                                            |
|     w   |                                                            |
| henever |                                                            |
|     po  |                                                            |
| ssible, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   often |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| through |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     ass |                                                            |
| istance |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
| ficials |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   repre |                                                            |
| senting |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hild\'s |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| origin. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Were |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| citizen |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   minor |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   found |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  circum |                                                            |
| stances |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Elian |                                                            |
|     G   |                                                            |
| onzalez |                                                            |
|     B   |                                                            |
| rotons, |                                                            |
|     we  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  expect |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     gov |                                                            |
| ernment |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    imme |                                                            |
| diately |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    seek |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hild\'s |                                                            |
|     su  |                                                            |
| rviving |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parent, |                                                            |
|     if  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    any, |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| contact |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
| ficials |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|     ass |                                                            |
| istance |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   doing |                                                            |
|     so  |                                                            |
|     if  |                                                            |
|     nec |                                                            |
| essary. |                                                            |
|     We  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    then |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  expect |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     gov |                                                            |
| ernment |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| romptly |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parent, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  unless |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  parent |                                                            |
|     ex  |                                                            |
| pressly |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   asked |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   other |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   arran |                                                            |
| gements |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   made. |                                                            |
|     We  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  ensure |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|     gov |                                                            |
| ernment |                                                            |
|     was |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   aware |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     pa  |                                                            |
| rent\'s |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  wishes |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  expect |                                                            |
|     our |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| epresen |                                                            |
| tations |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  regard |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    ques |                                                            |
| tioned. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Thus, |                                                            |
|     we  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  expect |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     pa  |                                                            |
| rent\'s |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  direct |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  partic |                                                            |
| ipation |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    proc |                                                            |
| eedings |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| quired. |                                                            |
|     We  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  expect |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     su  |                                                            |
| rviving |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  parent |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| ssarily |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| recover |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  child. |                                                            |
|     Nor |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|     we  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  expect |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     su  |                                                            |
| rviving |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     c   |                                                            |
| ourt\'s |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     his |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     her |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     not |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|    that |                                                            |
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|   there |                                                            |
|     was |                                                            |
|     any |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     re  |                                                            |
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| rviving |                                                            |
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| merican |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     su  |                                                            |
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| latives |                                                            |
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|     j   |                                                            |
| udgment |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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| country |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     was |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  found. |                                                            |
|     We  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    also |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| igorous |                                                            |
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|     to  |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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| ernment |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     to  |                                                            |
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| stitute |                                                            |
|     its |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     in  |                                                            |
| terests |                                                            |
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|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     p   |                                                            |
| revious |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  parent |                                                            |
|     was |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     Mo  |                                                            |
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|     we  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  expect |                                                            |
|     any |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ecision |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
| fitness |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     by  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   where |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     was |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  found, |                                                            |
|     but |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| country |                                                            |
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|     the |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hild\'s |                                                            |
|     h   |                                                            |
| abitual |                                                            |
|     res |                                                            |
| idence. |                                                            |
|     A   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| failure |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Elian |                                                            |
|     G   |                                                            |
| onzalez |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Brotons |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     his |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  father |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  fundam |                                                            |
| entally |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   incon |                                                            |
| sistent |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   these |                                                            |
|     pri |                                                            |
| nciples |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     we  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
| dvocate |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     of  |                                                            |
|     an  |                                                            |
|     A   |                                                            |
| merican |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  child. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 8.  The |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    case |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Elian |                                                            |
|     G   |                                                            |
| onzalez |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     s   |                                                            |
| traight |                                                            |
| forward |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| because |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   there |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     no  |                                                            |
|     su  |                                                            |
| rviving |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  parent |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| States. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Cases |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
| volving |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|     two |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  living |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parents |                                                            |
|     who |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| country |                                                            |
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|     one |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  parent |                                                            |
|     are |                                                            |
|     far |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
| complex |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     di  |                                                            |
| fficult |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| esolve. |                                                            |
|     The |                                                            |
|     b   |                                                            |
| ehavior |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Elian |                                                            |
|     G   |                                                            |
| onzalez |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Brotons |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    case |                                                            |
|     has |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| cations |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     h   |                                                            |
| owever. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     co  |                                                            |
| untries |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  world, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    like |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Cuba, |                                                            |
|     are |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   party |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| vention |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
| Aspects |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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| ational |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Child |                                                            |
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| uction. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| n-Hague |                                                            |
|     cou |                                                            |
| ntry,\" |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     Dep |                                                            |
| artment |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     ty  |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
|  parent |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
|   These |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| efforts |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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| cluding |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
|   cases |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|     r   |                                                            |
| equests |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  senior |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|     Gov |                                                            |
| ernment |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
| ficials |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
|   level |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
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| icials. |                                                            |
|     If  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  INS\'s |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ecision |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| ability |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     r   |                                                            |
| equests |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| ssfully |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|  surely |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|     im  |                                                            |
| paired. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     r   |                                                            |
| equests |                                                            |
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|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|     i   |                                                            |
| nvolved |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|     the |                                                            |
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|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| t-child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| onship; |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| ability |                                                            |
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|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
|   these |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| conside |                                                            |
| rations |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    cred |                                                            |
| ibility |                                                            |
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|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| nished. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Second, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
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| orities |                                                            |
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|     to  |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsider |                                                            |
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|         |                                                            |
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| ibility |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   their |                                                            |
|     own |                                                            |
|     cou |                                                            |
| ntrymen |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    will |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| emember |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| failure |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Elian |                                                            |
|     G   |                                                            |
| onzalez |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Brotons |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     his |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  father |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   react |                                                            |
|     neg |                                                            |
| atively |                                                            |
|     if  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    such |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    auth |                                                            |
| orities |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    left |                                                            |
| -behind |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  parent |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| States. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 9.      |                                                            |
| Because |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  recent |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   years |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| onsular |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    work |                                                            |
|     has |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    been |                                                            |
|     eno |                                                            |
| rmously |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    comp |                                                            |
| licated |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     inc |                                                            |
| reasing |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  number |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  multin |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|     fa  |                                                            |
| milies, |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     Dep |                                                            |
| artment |                                                            |
|     has |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    made |                                                            |
|     an  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  effort |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| develop |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    conv |                                                            |
| entions |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| address |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  unique |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| roblems |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   arise |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    such |                                                            |
|     fa  |                                                            |
| milies. |                                                            |
|     The |                                                            |
|     Dep |                                                            |
| artment |                                                            |
|     led |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    dele |                                                            |
| gations |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     neg |                                                            |
| otiated |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    1980 |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Hague |                                                            |
|     Con |                                                            |
| vention |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Civil |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Aspects |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Intern |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Child |                                                            |
|     Abd |                                                            |
| uction; |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    1993 |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Hague |                                                            |
|     Con |                                                            |
| vention |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     Pro |                                                            |
| tection |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     C   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Coop |                                                            |
| eration |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Respect |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Inter |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|     Ad  |                                                            |
| option; |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    1996 |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Hague |                                                            |
|     Con |                                                            |
| vention |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Jurisd |                                                            |
| iction, |                                                            |
|     App |                                                            |
| licable |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Law, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Recog |                                                            |
| nition, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Enfo |                                                            |
| rcement |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Coop |                                                            |
| eration |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Respect |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     P   |                                                            |
| arental |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Respons |                                                            |
| ibility |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     M   |                                                            |
| easures |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     Pro |                                                            |
| tection |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     Ch  |                                                            |
| ildren. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   These |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   other |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| private |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  intern |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|     law |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    agre |                                                            |
| ements, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    such |                                                            |
|     as  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   those |                                                            |
|     cu  |                                                            |
| rrently |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   being |                                                            |
|     neg |                                                            |
| otiated |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     rec |                                                            |
| iprocal |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| support |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   enfor |                                                            |
| cement, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    seek |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| provide |                                                            |
|     an  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  agreed |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   legal |                                                            |
|     fr  |                                                            |
| amework |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    appr |                                                            |
| opriate |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   legal |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| emedies |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  assist |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| protect |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parents |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  multin |                                                            |
| ational |                                                            |
|     fa  |                                                            |
| milies, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   parti |                                                            |
| cularly |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    when |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  family |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  breaks |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   apart |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| becomes |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| transna |                                                            |
| tional. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 1       |                                                            |
| 0. When |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| custody |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| dispute |                                                            |
|     i   |                                                            |
| nvolves |                                                            |
|     co  |                                                            |
| untries |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   apply |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Hague |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Conv |                                                            |
| ention, |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Conven |                                                            |
| tion\'s |                                                            |
|     mec |                                                            |
| hanisms |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   legal |                                                            |
|     st  |                                                            |
| andards |                                                            |
|     can |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| invoked |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    left |                                                            |
| -behind |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  parent |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    seek |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   taken |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    from |                                                            |
|     his |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     her |                                                            |
|     \"h |                                                            |
| abitual |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   resid |                                                            |
| ence.\" |                                                            |
|     The |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|     sub |                                                            |
| scribes |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   fully |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Conven |                                                            |
| tion\'s |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    core |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| concept |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  should |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| eturned |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hild\'s |                                                            |
|     h   |                                                            |
| abitual |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| sidence |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    when |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     has |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    been |                                                            |
|     wro |                                                            |
| ngfully |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| emoved, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  absent |                                                            |
|     e   |                                                            |
| vidence |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| \"grave |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  risk\" |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     as  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| defined |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Conv |                                                            |
| ention. |                                                            |
|     We  |                                                            |
|     do  |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  accept |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| \"grave |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  risk\" |                                                            |
|     can |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   found |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   under |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     Con |                                                            |
| vention |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   based |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     j   |                                                            |
| udgment |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    will |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  better |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    life |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|     he  |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     she |                                                            |
|     has |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    been |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  taken. |                                                            |
|     We  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    also |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    look |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| extreme |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| caution |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    sugg |                                                            |
| estions |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ecision |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| whether |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  should |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   based |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   views |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  child. |                                                            |
|     The |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Hague |                                                            |
|     Con |                                                            |
| vention |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| permits |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  consid |                                                            |
| eration |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   views |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    only |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    when |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     has |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
| ttained |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    \"an |                                                            |
|     age |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  degree |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     m   |                                                            |
| aturity |                                                            |
|     at  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|     it  |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    appr |                                                            |
| opriate |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    take |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| account |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     its |                                                            |
|     v   |                                                            |
| iews.\" |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Because |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| oncerns |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    this |                                                            |
|     pr  |                                                            |
| ovision |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   could |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  abused |                                                            |
|     as  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   basis |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| turning |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     his |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     her |                                                            |
|     h   |                                                            |
| abitual |                                                            |
|     res |                                                            |
| idence, |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     ori |                                                            |
| ginally |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    took |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| osition |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     Con |                                                            |
| vention |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  should |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  permit |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  consid |                                                            |
| eration |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   views |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     at  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    all, |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     at  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   least |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|     if  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     was |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   under |                                                            |
|     age |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| twelve. |                                                            |
|     We  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    were |                                                            |
|     co  |                                                            |
| ncerned |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| younger |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  mature |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| enough, |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|     ine |                                                            |
| vitably |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    been |                                                            |
|     inf |                                                            |
| luenced |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  parent |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  person |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|     im  |                                                            |
| mediate |                                                            |
|     p   |                                                            |
| hysical |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| ustody. |                                                            |
|     A   |                                                            |
| lthough |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    nego |                                                            |
| tiators |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| eclined |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     es  |                                                            |
| tablish |                                                            |
|     an  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
| bsolute |                                                            |
|     age |                                                            |
| -limit, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   there |                                                            |
|     was |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| general |                                                            |
|     ag  |                                                            |
| reement |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     pr  |                                                            |
| inciple |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|     S   |                                                            |
| tates\' |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   views |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     co  |                                                            |
| ncerns. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Thus, |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
| pplying |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    this |                                                            |
|     exc |                                                            |
| eption, |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  courts |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    most |                                                            |
|     co  |                                                            |
| untries |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    been |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| careful |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    rest |                                                            |
| rained. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 11. Reg |                                                            |
| ardless |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| whether |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   taken |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Hague |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     no  |                                                            |
| n-Hague |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| ountry, |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     ma  |                                                            |
| intains |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  should |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| eturned |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hild\'s |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   place |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     h   |                                                            |
| abitual |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| sidence |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  except |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| limited |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| circums |                                                            |
| tances. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Such |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  circum |                                                            |
| stances |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| include |                                                            |
|     sit |                                                            |
| uations |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| turning |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   place |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     h   |                                                            |
| abitual |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| sidence |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   incon |                                                            |
| sistent |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.N. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Refugee |                                                            |
|     Con |                                                            |
| vention |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     P   |                                                            |
| rotocol |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Torture |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Conv |                                                            |
| ention. |                                                            |
|     The |                                                            |
|     INS |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ecision |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Elian |                                                            |
|     G   |                                                            |
| onzalez |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Brotons |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  should |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|     r   |                                                            |
| eturned |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     his |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  father |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Cuba |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     con |                                                            |
| sistent |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   these |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    prin |                                                            |
| ciples. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 12. A   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| failure |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| enforce |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     INS |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ecision |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  would, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    conv |                                                            |
| ersely, |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   incon |                                                            |
| sistent |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    with |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     pri |                                                            |
| nciples |                                                            |
|     we  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
| dvocate |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  behalf |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   could |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    pote |                                                            |
| ntially |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| lasting |                                                            |
|     n   |                                                            |
| egative |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   impli |                                                            |
| cations |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    left |                                                            |
| -behind |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parents |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| citizen |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   taken |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|     cou |                                                            |
| ntries. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  First, |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| turning |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Elian |                                                            |
|     G   |                                                            |
| onzalez |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Brotons |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     his |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  father |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|     pe  |                                                            |
| rceived |                                                            |
|     as  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ecision |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    fund |                                                            |
| amental |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   paren |                                                            |
| t-child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   relat |                                                            |
| ionship |                                                            |
|     can |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|     i   |                                                            |
| gnored, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    even |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   where |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   there |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     no  |                                                            |
|     e   |                                                            |
| vidence |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     unf |                                                            |
| itness. |                                                            |
|     A   |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ecision |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   based |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     \   |                                                            |
| "indepe |                                                            |
| ndent\" |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   views |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   six-y |                                                            |
| ear-old |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   would |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    also |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     da  |                                                            |
| ngerous |                                                            |
|     pre |                                                            |
| cedent. |                                                            |
|     F   |                                                            |
| inally, |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| turning |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Elian |                                                            |
|     G   |                                                            |
| onzalez |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Brotons |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     his |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  father |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   could |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|     pe  |                                                            |
| rceived |                                                            |
|     as  |                                                            |
|     en  |                                                            |
| dorsing |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   right |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   found |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  refuse |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hild\'s |                                                            |
|     h   |                                                            |
| abitual |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| sidence |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   based |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     j   |                                                            |
| udgment |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     h   |                                                            |
| abitual |                                                            |
|     re  |                                                            |
| sidence |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     de  |                                                            |
| sirable |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   place |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   raise |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  child. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| 13. H   |                                                            |
| undreds |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   cases |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
| volving |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   taken |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    from |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    over |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    past |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    twen |                                                            |
| ty-five |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   years |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    have |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  taught |                                                            |
|     us  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     it  |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     ex  |                                                            |
| tremely |                                                            |
|     di  |                                                            |
| fficult |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  obtain |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    from |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| country |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    acts |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   whole |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    part |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   basis |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     ju  |                                                            |
| dgments |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   about |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    envi |                                                            |
| ronment |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    will |                                                            |
|     be  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| raised. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    This |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     par |                                                            |
| ticular |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| problem |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    when |                                                            |
|     we  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    seek |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    U.S. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| citizen |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    from |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Islamic |                                                            |
|     cou |                                                            |
| ntries, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|     ge  |                                                            |
| nerally |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    give |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| custody |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  father |                                                            |
|     but |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   which |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    will |                                                            |
|     so  |                                                            |
| metimes |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    give |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| custody |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    very |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   young |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| hildren |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| mother. |                                                            |
|     For |                                                            |
|     e   |                                                            |
| xample, |                                                            |
|     an  |                                                            |
|     ab  |                                                            |
| ducting |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  father |                                                            |
|     de  |                                                            |
| fending |                                                            |
|     his |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| custody |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  Middle |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Eastern |                                                            |
|     cou |                                                            |
| ntry\'s |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  courts |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| against |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    left |                                                            |
| -behind |                                                            |
|     A   |                                                            |
| merican |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  mother |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    last |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    year |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| alluded |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| \"moral |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| decay\" |                                                            |
|     i   |                                                            |
| nvading |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| States. |                                                            |
|     We  |                                                            |
|     fre |                                                            |
| quently |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    find |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  father |                                                            |
|     who |                                                            |
|     has |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
| bducted |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   child |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|     an  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Islamic |                                                            |
|     c   |                                                            |
| ountry, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    even |                                                            |
|     if  |                                                            |
|     co  |                                                            |
| nceding |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    left |                                                            |
| -behind |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  mother |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    good |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parent, |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    will |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| justify |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|     ab  |                                                            |
| duction |                                                            |
|     on  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  ground |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  social |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    envi |                                                            |
| ronment |                                                            |
|     in  |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  United |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  States |                                                            |
|     is  |                                                            |
|     i   |                                                            |
| mmoral, |                                                            |
|     s   |                                                            |
| exually |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   promi |                                                            |
| scuous, |                                                            |
|     or  |                                                            |
|     ot  |                                                            |
| herwise |                                                            |
|     uns |                                                            |
| uitable |                                                            |
|     for |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| raising |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|     ch  |                                                            |
| ildren. |                                                            |
|     I   |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| believe |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    that |                                                            |
|     a   |                                                            |
|     d   |                                                            |
| ecision |                                                            |
|     not |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  return |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   Elian |                                                            |
|     G   |                                                            |
| onzalez |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| Brotons |                                                            |
|     to  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    Cuba |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   could |                                                            |
|     en  |                                                            |
| courage |                                                            |
|     the |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|  making |                                                            |
|     of  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|    such |                                                            |
|     ar  |                                                            |
| guments |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|     ab  |                                                            |
| ducting |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| parents |                                                            |
|     and |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   their |                                                            |
|     acc |                                                            |
| eptance |                                                            |
|     by  |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| foreign |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
|   autho |                                                            |
| rities. |                                                            |
|         |                                                            |
| I       |                                                            |
| declare |                                                            |
| under   |                                                            |
| penalty |                                                            |
| of      |                                                            |
| perjury |                                                            |
| that    |                                                            |
| the     |                                                            |
| fo      |                                                            |
| regoing |                                                            |
| is true |                                                            |
| and     |                                                            |
| c       |                                                            |
| orrect. |                                                            |
| E       |                                                            |
| xecuted |                                                            |
| in      |                                                            |
| Wash    |                                                            |
| ington, |                                                            |
| D.C.,   |                                                            |
| on      |                                                            |
| January |                                                            |
| 24,     |                                                            |
| 2000.   |                                                            |
+---------+------------------------------------------------------------+