W&W CASE OF ABANDONED MINOR LAURA CHRISTINA RINCON

UNCLAS NOGALES 000205 SIPDIS SIPDIS CA/OCS/ACS/WHA SAMUEL COLON-RUIZ, CA/OCS/CI JILL LARSEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC MX KOCI SUBJECT: W&W CASE OF ABANDONED MINOR LAURA CHRISTINA RINCON ¶1. Name: Laura Christina Rincon ¶2. DPOB: March 26, 1994, El Paso, TX ¶3. Evidence of US citizenship: Copy of a Texas birth certificate. ¶4. Comments: Post learned of Ms. Rincon's case from the local district attorney for children's issues (DIF),Eduardo Chavez. Conoff and conassist visited the orphanage where she was reported to live. The orphanage director, Ms. Maria Acosta Aguilar, told conoff that Ms. Rincon was abandoned by her Mexican citizen mother, Maria Christina Garcia, on August 23, ¶2002. On that date, Ms. Garcia was placed in the care of Casa Hogar Para Ninas Maria Conchita in Nogales, Sonora. Ms. Rincon appears to be a healthy, well-adjusted teenager with an interest in living and studying in the United States. The director also informed conoff that an Indiana couple, who has previously adopted a child from her orphanage, has expressed an interest in adopting Ms. Rincon and repatriating her. According to orphanage records, Ms. Rincon's mother had problems with addiction, depression, and had attempted suicide on multiple occasions. A local priest, said the director, assisted Ms. Rincon's placement in the orphanage five years ago. The child has had no contact with her mother since then. At this time, the only proof of citizenship is a poor quality copy of a Texas birth certificate. Post is working with the orphanage in trying to gather more citizenship evidence and determining who has current legal guardian rights. Post is in contact with CA/OCS Adoption Specialist Jill Larsen and will continue to update as information develops. SHARPE