Mexican Adoptions

The United States' closest neighbor to the south, Mexico has a population of more than 103 million people. Between 200 B.C. and 900 A.D., the "Golden Age of Mexico," Mexico was home to the ancient Aztec civilization. This Golden Age of the Aztecs was a time when arts and sciences reached lofty heights, when a complex writing system developed, and when a sophisticated mathematical system permitted the accurate recording of time. Many impressive Aztec structures remain standing to this day, including the pyramids at Teotihuacán near Mexico City, the Pyramid of the Niches at El Tajín in the state of Veracruz, and the Temple of the Sun at Palenque in present-day Chiapas.

The children who are available for adoption from Mexico have either been orphaned or abandoned by their parents (usually due to crushing poverty). In 2002, Americans adopted 61 children from Mexico.

What's Involved in Adopting a Child From Mexico?

The State System for the Full Development of the Family (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia, or DIF) is the government institution in each Mexican state dealing with family matters. It acts as the legal representative for abandoned children and provides foster care for abused or orphaned minors. Children who are abandoned or orphaned can be placed for adoption by the DIF.

In cases of abandoned children, the local office of the Ministerio Publico (the investigatory arm of the courts) will be contacted regarding the circumstances of the child's abandonment The Ministerio Publico will initiate the appropriate investigation to determine the identity of the child. If there are no leads, an adoption of the child may be processed.

The DIF is assigned responsibility to study each child's eligibility for adoption and to arrange adoptions. The DIF determines whether a family would be suitable for a particular child by ensuring that a homestudy has been done. The DIF makes every effort to place children with relatives or Mexican citizens.

In a Nut Shell: The Low-Down on Adopting From Mexico

• Children Available: Healthy children of both genders, four months old and older, are available for adoption from Mexico. Sibling groups and special needs children are also available for adoption from Mexico.
• Parent Requirements: Parents must be at least 25 years old. Married couples, single men, and single women may adopt from Mexico. Parents must be at least 17 years older than the child to be adopted.
• Travel Requirements: Travel is required by both parents. The total trip length is between one and three weeks.
• Time Frame: It takes approximately nine months to a year to bring your child home from the time your dossier arrives in Mexico.
• Number of Children Adopted by Americans in 2002: 61
• Additional Information: The children available for adoption from Mexico live in orphanages.

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Credits: Excerpted from "International Adoption Guidebook," by Mary Strickert