Recently unveiled documents have shed light on how federal authorities and a Virginia court facilitated the adoption of an Afghan war orphan by an American Marine, despite the U.S. government’s policy advocating for the child’s reunification with her Afghan relatives. Read more about the adoption process here.
The court records, obtained after a prolonged legal battle by The Associated Press, highlight the bureaucratic loopholes that allowed Marine Joshua Mast and his wife, Stephanie, to adopt the child, who was living with an Afghan couple appointed by their government.
This case has sparked controversy, with the federal government attributing the situation to the court’s decisions and vice versa. The incident has raised concerns over America’s global reputation and allegations of child trafficking.
In 2019, the child was discovered amidst the rubble of a battlefield in Afghanistan and was taken to a U.S. military base hospital. During President Donald Trump’s first term, the State Department coordinated with Afghan officials to find her family.
However, the Masts sought to adopt her, convincing a Virginia judge to approve the adoption, even though the child was thousands of miles away. They used the adoption decree to take custody of the child from her Afghan guardians during the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal in 2021.
Virginia Court’s Role in the Adoption
The documents indicate that the Fluvanna County court bypassed protective legal standards to grant the Masts the adoption without the necessary international consent. Judge Richard Moore accepted the Masts’ assertion of the child’s “statelessness” despite discrepancies noted by legal representatives.
The adoption process omitted critical steps, such as confirming the child’s availability for adoption and ensuring the child’s presence during home evaluations. Even Judge Moore later acknowledged procedural errors, stating, “I’ll probably think about this the rest of my life…”
Overlooked Information
Judge Moore was unaware of several key details when authorizing the adoption in December 2020. The federal government, which was not informed of the adoption attempt, maintained that the child was not stateless, highlighting ongoing efforts to locate her family.
The child was not in medical distress, as medical records classified her as a “healthy healing infant.” Despite this, Mast claimed she was the child of foreign fighters and provided misleading information regarding her Afghan guardians.
Federal Government’s Contradictory Actions
A court declaration by an Army colonel described Mast’s actions as inappropriate interference, with both military and State Department officials attempting to prevent him from contacting the child. Yet, simultaneously, some within these agencies assisted his efforts.
The Masts used their influence to evacuate the Afghan family to the U.S., labeling them as military allies during the withdrawal despite having no such affiliations. Officials at a refugee center in Virginia accepted the adoption papers without recognizing their flaws, leading to the child being handed over to the Masts by a State Department employee.
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For further inquiries, contact AP’s global investigative team at [email protected] or visit https://www.ap.org/tips/.
