A woman and her best friend traveled from Texas to Thailand with her two American born children ages 4 and 6*. After a short stay the women attempted to board a plane back to the United States with the children. Because the women were acting suspiciously they were detained by border patrol and searched. When the search revealed nothing the law enforcement officials searched the two children and discovered a large quantity of heroin stuffed inside the children's clothing and carry-on baggage.  

The two women were immediately arrested and the children were placed with social services. The social worker notified the U.S. Embassy and contacted ISS-USA for some technical assistance on how to proceed with locating the children's relatives in Texas or California. ISS-USA worked with its partner in Thailand to identify potential caregivers in the U.S. ISS-USA began the process of searching for, and evaluating, caregivers for placement of the children when they were returned.  

The presiding judge was concerned, since the mother was to be deported from Thailand, that the children weren't simply given back to her upon her arrival in the U.S. ISS-USA reached out to a legal non-profit in Texas and spoke with the Executive Director who was a former family court judge. The information he provided was used to help guide the judge in Thailand on what could be done to ensure that the aunt and uncle could take physical and legal custody of the children and have the order of custody enforced by the court in the county where they lived.  

The children were reunited with their relatives in October, after nearly four months in foster care in Thailand. The court in Texas honored the custody decree.  Upon their return to the U.S. the two women were arrested for a drug violation in Texas. The children continue to reside with their family and are doing very well.