Gabriel was born in the US. He is a US citizen. His adoptive parents are his parents bottom line. There is no reason for him to be sent to Mexico. His family is here. The state of Oregon as well as Oregon DHS needs to stand up for Gabriel and the rest of as US citizens and stop trying to tear this family apart. Instead of trying to deport citizens maybe they should work on the thousands of illegal immigrants that are here breaking laws and mooching off taxpayers hard earned money. Iam amazed that this is even an issue and deportation is even being discussed. To the state of Oregon open your eyes and start doing your jobs and worry about real issues.

It would be a travesty if this child is taken away from his foster parents and sent to Mexico. Once again we see a calouse and heartless state system that doesn't care about the emotional damage they bestow upon families in cases of this nature. This child belongs where he is at and not with his grandmother in Mexico where his fugitive mother would have access to him. I pray for this foster family and this child that they love deeply and that in the end this child remains where he belongs, with his foster parents who are his true mother and father.

He should be sent to Mexico to live with his grandmother.In no circumstances should he be allowed to return to his mother.

I think Gabriel has established a very strong relationship with this foster family and they should be able to adopt him. This much time should not have to pass before someone makes this kind of decision. If he was raised here, then there is no reason to move him now. Especially if the mother or father cannot take custody.

People don't have children so they can hand them over to the government. They have them to create families. I don't know why this little boy was taken away from his parents and put in the foster system, but as a grandmother myself, I would want to be the one who would take care of my grandchild if something prevented from my son or daughter from doing so. The child should be with his family.

To Kay Hayley....Gabriel was taken from his parents because they are drug runners. The mother is currently a fugitive on the run and his father is in prison. Being sent to Mexico will benefit him in no way. Kepp Gabriel here with his family!!!

Gabriel should be raised by his Grandmother. He should be raised with his family. Public opinion here in the U.S. has nothing to do with what is right. The foster parents are, no doubt, wonderful people, they do not, however; have the right to keep this child, when his Grandmother is alive, well and able to provide him with the home life which surrounds him with family and culture that awaits him in Mexico. Most 2 year old american children do not speak English well, this statement about him not speaking Spanish is ridiculous. His birth mother has no right to speak for him. She gave up that right when she chose drugs over caring for Gabriel.

The sooner Gabriel is returned to his Grandmother, the better and less traumatic it will be for Gabriel. Do what is right -NOW!

I am a grandmother, and if my grandchild was abandoned in another country, you can be sure my entire family and I would be doing all we could to have that child returned to us.

Gabriel should be sent to Mexico to his grandmother. He is NOT an American citizen and never can be. Read the Constitution. This was a lie started by the Japanese in the internment camps awaiting execution for war crimes and has been claimed by every illegal in this country since then, including terrorists. Americans are repeating it and should know better. Regardless, I would think the grandmother is the only one with a legal right to him. Would the people trying to adopt him give up their grandson if he happened to be born in a foreign country??

I think Gabriel should remain with his foster parents in the US. If sending him to his grandmother in Mexico is determined to be the right move then I think the living conditions and the people he'd be sent to should be investigated first. Not all family members are the right choice in a situation like this. Ripping him away from the only parents he knows doesn't seem to be in the best interests of the child at all.

As a foster parent and relative caregiver I understand the importance of a family and cultural bond with birth parents. I am certain that this foster family is very aware of their son’s heritage and will take that into consideration in the raising of this child, teach him of his heritage and his culture and also share their culture and heritage with him as well. Foster parents are taught the importance of culture in their training that is continuously updated throughout their years of fostering and adoption.

Betty Packebush, may I turn your attention to the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution:
"Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

If that child was born in the United States, he is a citizen and cannot be deported to Mexico without the benefit of due process. PERIOD. If the Oregon DHS wishes to deport him, then they are violating his constitutional rights as a citizen. Personally I believe this is sa non-issue - if he's born here he belongs here.
American culture has a tendency to place more importance on consanguinal (blood) relationships than those of alliance; when that happens, absurd situations like this arise. This two year old will not benefit nearly as much from moving to a third world nation and a life of poverty - tell me the grandmother is financially secure and I will retract this - than he would in the only home he has ever known, in the country of his birth.
But Betty, do your homework before making a post with such vitriol - it makes you look ignorant otherwise.

Send that child to his grandmother in Mexico. The State is already supporting his father while in jail, chances are his mother is being supported by a State somewhere, and as a foster child the State has supported him for the last two years. Where does it end???

What problem has arisen in the childs life that
DHS views a necessity to send the child out of this country?
Foster Family is Home, Security, Support, LOVE.
Tear this little boy away and watch the panic, fear, trauma, insecurity, paranoia, resentment and backlash develop.
Let it happen and DHS gets another pat on the back for creating another criminal.
Way to Go DHS. Way to go Kulongowski.
Do you guys even understand your phrase: "IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD"?
Thank GOD, the final judgement will prevail.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE DSHS' MISTAKES. NO CONSIDERATION FOR THE CHILD. THAT CHILD IS, AND WILL REMAIN A U.S. CITIZEN. THIS CHILD DOES NOT KNOW HIS GRAMMA AND THIS CHILD ALSO PROBABLY HAS DEEP FEELINGS FOR HIS FOSTER PARENTS. MY GOD, WAKE-UP PEOPLE, HE DOES "NOT" BELONG TO MEXICO OR HIS GRANDMOTHER. WHETHER WE'RE SUPPORTING HIS PARENTS IN THE SYSTEM OR NOT! IT'S NOT HIS FAULT. HE DEFINATELY BELONGS HERE IN THE U.S. WITH HIS FOSTER PARENTS.

Gabriel needs to stay with his American foster parents who are the only parents he knows. He is an American citizen, and has been growing up in our American culture. He knows nothing of the Mexican culture, and it will confuse him to be ripped from the only culture he knows and thrown into another. His American home also has much more to offer, more that he really needs. If his grandmother loves him, she would let him live here where he will have a lot more. Her Mexican home and town look very poor. And, we don't need to send her money for her to live richer in Mexico. I say that DHS can help her come here, every so often, to visit Gabriel, and maybe live here also. I believe DHS is very wrong in destroying this young, American citizen's life and opportunities. DHS is good at making wrong decisions and has seperated many families in the past. So, they don't need to say that they are family oriented.

They need to look at the best interest of the child. I see emotionally damaged children every day as a substitute teacher. This child will suffer greatly from attachment disorder is he is removed from the family that he knows and loves and is sent to an unknown family in a very foreign country where a completely different language is spoken. His biological parents are obviously not an option and may never be, however he is currently in a stable environment and should remain there.

However this doesn't mean that he cannot have a relationship with his biological grandparents if his current family and grandparents can do so amicably. If done well, this little man could have a very rich family with his foster/adoptive family AND his biological Mexican family. Visiting his grandmother with his current family could be a great learning opportunity for all involved. Let us enrich lives instead of tear them apart.

Typical DSHS decision, SCREW UP ANOTHER LIFE IF WE CAN. Would YOU like to be deported to MExico?
I know I wouldn't. Leave well enough alone.

You know if that little boy has lived with his adopted parents since he was a couple months old then there is no question that he should remain with them, but, if he knows the grandma then maybe he should have visitation with her if she is stable. I was in a foster home for many years due to my parents being unstable and my foster parents had gaurdianship over me and I had visitation with both sides of my family and I feel that that it is important when possible for children to know the birth family as long as he is safe. His own mother says she wants him to stay with the adoptive parents and they are the only stable people he knows in his life and he should not be taken away from a good home where he is safe and has a good future ahead of him it really does not seem that the biological family even sounds stable or safe because both parents are in trouble with the law. I guess I am saying it sounds like he is already in a very caring home which is all he knows and I feel that it could do him more harm than good to be taken from the people he lives with and moved somewhere that he knows noone and if they are in Mxico then they probably do not even speak english and how confusing would that be?

i think that gabriel should be allowed to stay here with his adopted family.he is an american citizen and he already has a loving family here where he belongs.to pick him up and move him would wanted be tramatic for him.and if his grandmother wanted him he would of went to her in the first place and not been put in an adopted family.so bottom line he needs to stay here.

Absolutely!! The child's RIGHTS are being Violated
How many of US need to speak out to make a change?
This little boy represents all the little boys that DHS has violated in the past 32 years.
Some states called their dhr childrens kidnapping program: "Children's Services Division".
DHS has employed kidnapping "EXPERTS": along with assistance from local Police, "if we" "alledge a child" to be in "IMMINENT Danger", we shall have the right, to remove the child from their home and place in foster care until a "Shelter Hearing" can be conducted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I read the other comments after I posted mine. It sounds like Betty Packebush would like all Afro-Americans to be sent to Africa, all Japanese Americans sent to Japan, all Vietnamese Americans to be sent back to communist Vietnam and etc. I don't know what race Betty is of, but she sounds very prejudiced as some others do. I am caucasian, but that doesn't matter. I wonder where her ancestors came from. Her ancestors, who immigrated here, were not American. So according to her, although she was possibly born here, along with possibly several generations of her ancestors, she cannot be an American because her ancestors who came here were not American. Come on. Gabriel was born here, so he is an American citizen with American rights that DHS is criminally trying to violate. And as far as family, we are all of the same family of God. We, no matter what race or what country we come from, are all brothers and sisters. We formed our different physical characteristics by the environment we have lived in through the thousands of years. It is who has cared for, and bonded with, Gabriel, as family, that are his family. I agree that his foster parents will teach him about his culture. And I again state that the Mexican family should visit. And, his foster parents can take him to visit his family in Mexico. But he is American, and the 14th ammendment guarantees that. Should we deport Betty to the country her ancestors came from?

Gee Ted, Looks like everyone in the state is CONCERNED about our little boy. How do you plan?

Gabriel should stay with his foster parents or his biological mother. The man who raped Gabriel's mother and his family should not be given custodial rights. It would be rewarding a criminal act and is morally wrong to justify such a violent act against a woman by giving paternal rights over to the criminal and his family.

This Child has not asked for help. WHO are THE PEOPLE or ORGANIZATION trying to involve themselves with little boy's life? Get YOUR OWN PROBLEMS,,,,,LIFE IN HELL

I think that he should be able to stay here in the U.S. because it is probably in his best intrest to stay with the foster parents. Also the mother and father are both stating that they want him to stay here although they cannot care for him properly.

Gabriel should be placed with whoever can *give him the best quality of life*. Biological family or adoptive family, it doesn't matter! What matters is that Gabriel can live the best life possible under the circumstances. If he'll get better treatment, love, and support with his grandmother, then he should go to her; if the same with his foster parents, then he should stay with them. Neither genetic parent should be allowed to have him - both are too messed up to provide a decent life for him.

There are many points to keep in mind.
1st.. Gabriel is an American.
2nd.. Dad is in Jail and has no parental rights anyway so his opinion doesn't matter.
3rd.. If dad doesn't have parental rights why is his family even being considered?
4th.. Dad is a molester. That is often caused when a child is molested. Molested in Grandma's home???
5th.. When Dad is released he will have access to the boy.
6th.. Grandma and the area she lives in is very poor. Why sentence this poor child to a life of poverty when it doesn't have to happen.
7th.. Grandma never made any attempt to contact her grandson before. Has she been offered money because he's an American citizen?
8th.. Mom is a fugitive. As such does she have any parental rights? If yes she has chosen her son's family. The foster Family.
9th.. If Dad has no rights and mom has given up hers then it doesn't matter what the grandparents think. He is eligible to be adopted.

I was adopted as an infant. My birthmother was smart enough, strong enough, and brave enough to let me go so I would have a better life than the one she could give me. This is about doing the right thing. Obviously sending him to be with his grandma only serves her and his daddy. They are being selfish and cruel. Keep the boy with his foster family and allow him to be adopted. He will have 2 loving parents and siblings, and a chance to live a wonderful and fulfilling life.
DHS makes enough mistakes. Do it right this time.

Let's see...Deport the child to a foreign land, to live with a stranger, speaking an unknown language. Rip him away from the only loving, safe, and secure family that he has known and who undoubtedly he has bonded with. Who knows what kind of assurance we have that there will be any followup to see if he's doing allright. Yep, that must be in the "best interest of the child." Go DHS.

Does anyone wonder why Gabriel's father wanted to leave his natural home and to move to the U.S. illegally and so quick to say his son should go back? His father is a criminal and not a citizen. He also felt that coming to the U.S. was the best for him. Why should it be any different fot his son? Gabriel is a legal resident of the U.S. and not a criminal. In the best interest of this child, he should be left with the loving foster parents. I also believe that they should be given the right to adopt. The best interest of this child is to be raised in the U.S.

I want to know how supporters, of Gabriel staying in the United States, can unite and work as one body against the power-mad DHS. I would like to see the supporters unite with the step-parents to form a powerful fighting force, legally and politically. Gabriel's step-parents, and all us supporters need to communicate directly with each other and fight as an organization against an un-reasonable, power-mad, bureaucratic, government department that is out of control and has a long history of making decisions not "in the best interest for children." We are all talking opinions on the news, but if we are really serious about helping Gabriel, we need to organize with the step-parents and take group action. Talk is great, but action is what gets things done. I am asking for us supporters to connect and fight for Gabriel. I am sorry if I upset others with making so many submissions of opinions, but I am very angry that one of our government agencies wants to destroy the life of such a young, innocent, American citizen and claim it is in the "best interest of the child," - VERY ANGRY. DHS is pushing the fact that Gabriel is Mexican and needs to grow up in his Mexican culture. He is only half Mexican with the other half being American. His mother was American. And, he was born an American citizen. What about his American culture. Will the "grandmother" teach him about his American culture? I don't think so. But, his step-parents are required to teach him about the Mexican culture. I would like to see a way for us supporters to be able to start a fund to help Gabriel and his step-parents. I ask you, NWCN, if you can help supporters for Gabriel, and his step-parents, to connect with each other so we can fight as an organization and help raise funds for legal fees and funds for Gabriel's future. Is there anyone else out there that knows how we can do it? Is there anyone out there who wants to take action besides just stating an opinion? Talk doesn't get anything done without action. Action is what proves the type of person you are. I also ask anyone who believes in prayer to pray, and pray hard for, Gabriel,however you pray. All supporters of Gabriel and his step-parents: I ask you to put action where your mouth is. How? Let's find out. Thank-You

We do not ship US citizens to Mexico. This country does stand on the right of the child to secure a decent home which is clearly demonstrated by his foster parents.
The Grandmother in Mexico has every right to make a court claim to the boy, but her history in raising children is evident by her own son, a felon, here illegally, currently serving prison time in the US. No child deserves that legacy.

With his family, his blood, and his culture.

I can't even believe this is being discussed.

Oh look! A baby!..... oh please let me keep the little token baby! I'm an American! Thoughtful, but is it deeply thoughtful enough?

geeesh.