Stopping an Abduction in Progress

If you believe your child may be taken out of the country very soon—or is already being taken—act immediately. This page outlines the urgent steps you can take to try to stop an abduction in progress. You do not need to take these steps in a specific order. Take any and all actions you can, as quickly as possible. 

Immediate Actions You Should Take

Call Local Law Enforcement 

Tell the police your child is at risk of international parental child abduction. 

• Share any court orders or custody agreements 
• Ask them to enter your child’s information into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as a missing person; this can help the state police widen the search for your child 
• Request the officer’s full name, email, direct number, a 24-hour dispatch contact, and a backup officer’s name.

Learn more about working with local law enforcement.

Get a Court Order to Stop Travel

Ask a lawyer or local court if you can quickly obtain an emergency order to prevent your child from leaving the country. Court orders can: 

• Legally ban a child from international travel 
• Give police more authority to intervene 

Visit the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act or our Laws and Regulations page for legal resources. 

Need to act fast? You can still alert airports even if you don’t have a court order yet (see next step). 

Alert Airport Police and Airlines

If you know which airport may be used: 

• Contact airport law enforcement and explain the risk 
• Share court orders that prohibit travel 
• Ask to speak to the airline’s corporate security officer 
• Provide proof of parentage and ask if a reservation exists under your child’s name 

Note: The U.S. has no routine exit controls—this means the government does not routinely stop people, including children, from leaving the country. You must alert the airport and/or airline directly about your situation. 

Contact the Office of Children’s Issues – Prevention Branch

We are available 24 hours a day. 

• Call: 1-888-407-4747 (U.S. or Canada) 
• Email: PreventAbduction1@state.gov

Ask to speak with a Prevention Officer and explain the situation in as much detail as possible. 

Prevention Resources to Know About

Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) 

The Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program helps by monitoring U.S. passport applications for enrolled children. 

• Before an abduction: It can prevent a passport from being issued without proper consent. 
• During an abduction: If a new passport application is submitted, CPIAP can alert the enrolling parent. However, it cannot physically stop a child from traveling if a passport already exists. 

Learn how CPIAP works and how to enroll.

The Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act

The Sean and David Goldman Act is a U.S. law that helps bring children home when one parent takes them out of the country without the other parent’s permission. 

It gives the U.S. government more tools to act when another country won’t help return a child—even if that country is part of the Hague Abduction Convention. The law also helps prevent abductions by supporting court orders that limit international travel and helping parents understand their rights. 

You can read the full text of the Sean and David Goldman Act (2014) or learn more about the Prevent Abduction Program from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.