PRIA Logo™
Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§9001 Findings and Declarations

Title 22 › CHAPTER 97 — INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION REMEDIES › § 9001

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates rules to put the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, done at The Hague on October 25, 1980, into effect in the United States. It says taking or keeping a child across borders hurts the child, people must not get custody just because they removed or kept the child wrongfully, and growing numbers of these cases need international cooperation. It requires fast procedures to return children wrongfully removed or kept and to protect visitation, with returns required except for the Convention’s narrow exceptions. These U.S. rules add to the Convention, recognize it is international and needs uniform interpretation, and let U.S. courts decide only the rights under the Convention, not the full custody case.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §9001

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Findings
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1)The international abduction or wrongful retention of children is harmful to their well-being.
(2)Persons should not be permitted to obtain custody of children by virtue of their wrongful removal or retention.
(3)International abductions and retentions of children are increasing, and only concerted cooperation pursuant to an international agreement can effectively combat this problem.
(4)The Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, done at The Hague on October 25, 1980, establishes legal rights and procedures for the prompt return of children who have been wrongfully removed or retained, as well as for securing the exercise of visitation rights. Children who are wrongfully removed or retained within the meaning of the Convention are to be promptly returned unless one of the narrow exceptions set forth in the Convention applies. The Convention provides a sound treaty framework to help resolve the problem of international abduction and retention of children and will deter such wrongful removals and retentions.
(b)Declarations
The Congress makes the following declarations:
(1)It is the purpose of this chapter to establish procedures for the implementation of the Convention in the United States.
(2)The provisions of this chapter are in addition to and not in lieu of the provisions of the Convention.
(3)In enacting this chapter the Congress recognizes—
(A)the international character of the Convention; and
(B)the need for uniform international interpretation of the Convention.
(4)The Convention and this chapter empower courts in the United States to determine only rights under the Convention and not the merits of any underlying child custody claims.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act” meaning Pub. L. 100–300, Apr. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 437, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note below and Tables. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 11601 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

of 2004 Amendment Pub. L. 108–370, § 1, Oct. 25, 2004, 118 Stat. 1750, provided that: “This Act [amending section 9006 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Prevention of Child Abduction Partnership Act’.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 100–300, § 1, Apr. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 437, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 663 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare] may be cited as the ‘International Child Abduction Remedies Act’.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 9001

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110