February 6, 2009
(Washington, DC) – Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) today issued the following statement about efforts to reunite Sean Goldman with his father, David. Sean, an 8-year-old American citizen, has been at the center of an international child custody dispute since his mother, a Brazilian native, took him to Brazil in June 2004. Since she died in childbirth, David Goldman – a resident of Holt’s Congressional District in New Jersey – has not been able to regain custody of or see his son.
“This is a heartbreaking story that has had my attention and effort for years. I have worked with State Department and Brazilian authorities to get the matter to this stage. We have succeeded in getting Brazil to consider this case in the federal courts.
“This case demonstrates the difficulty of dealing with a sovereign country with different laws and customs. As recently as this week, in my conversation with Secretary of State Clinton, she has assured me that the United States will continue to work to reunite the son with his father. Many across this country are anxious to see this happen.”