Families adopting internationally face more hurdles with Trump's latest travel bans

Washington — Hundreds of American families and the children they're in the process of adopting from abroad are in a wait-and-see mode after President Trump's latest travel ban and visa freeze covering dozens of countries — unlike past travel bans — made no blanket exceptions for international adoption visas, advocacy groups and bipartisan lawmakers say.

Washington — Hundreds of American families and the children they're in the process of adopting from abroad are in a wait-and-see mode after President Trump's latest travel ban and visa freeze covering dozens of countries — unlike past travel bans — made no blanket exceptions for international adoption visas, advocacy groups and bipartisan lawmakers say.

The State Department circulated new guidance Wednesday saying children being adopted by U.S. citizens may qualify for an exception under the National Interest Exception on a "case-by-case" basis. The department "will consider such requests on a priority basis," according to guidance obtained by CBS News.

The new guidance, adoption groups and families say, is a step in the right direction, but they're also asking for adoptions to be exempt automatically. 

"Intercountry adoption remains a high priority for the administration, and adoption-related visas will continue to be processed as expeditiously as possible," the not-yet-released State Department guidance reads. "Additionally, because overall visa volumes have decreased following the [visa freeze], many consular offices now have increased capacity to assist with adoption cases."

Still, members of Congress from both parties who sit on the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Caucus and adoption nonprofit groups are urging the administration to make categorical exemptions for adoptions, rather than case-by-case allowances.