Interview with Peter Thomas Senese, Founding Director of the I CARE Foundation
Best-selling Author and Child Advocate Peter Thomas Senese:
Summer Child Abduction Season and Heroes.
Peter Thomas Senese is the Founding Director of the highly respected I
CARE Foundation, a self-funded non-profit
organization that has been influential in significantly
reducing the number of international parental child abductions originating from
the United States by 15% during each of the last two
consecutive years. The I CARE Foundation can trace its roots to Peter’s widely
critically acclaimed novel ‘Chasing
The Cyclone’; a fast-paced legal thriller
about a father heroically searching for his internationally parentally
kidnapped child who had disappeared into a sea of billions of faces. From his
own personal experiences, Peter has become a highly visible and outspoken child
abduction prevention advocates: the I CARE Foundation – which Peter has donated
100% of his book sales to – not only has helped pass new laws and sought to modify
government policies geared to protect children, but the I CARE Foundation has
helped reunite many internationally kidnapped children while stopping an even
larger number of abductions. In fact, it
has been said that Peter
Thomas Senese’s ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ is a book of miracles; a view supported by many testimonial
letters from parents around the world.
During the summer
school vacation period, international parental child abductions will devastate a large number of unsuspecting families around the
world. The majority of these child
kidnappings originate from families with parents born from two different
countries. Often when the marriage or
partnership of a multinational relationship dissolves, the parent who was born
in a foreign country may want to return to their country of origin, and do so
with the child of the relationship. Knowing that the other parent probably will
not consent to having their child move abroad, the parent who has intent to
leave creates a scheme to internationally abduct the child. Unfortunately, the
majority of targeted individuals do not even know that an abduction scheme
exists, or the relative ease that exists to abduct.
Knowing the warning
signs of international parental child abduction is key.
These cases are
not rare, especially since we live in an ever-increasing global society.
Unfortunately,
each case of international abduction is extraordinarily abusive. Sadly, it is
estimated that only 10% of all parentally abducted children come home. And
tragically, as reported by the Department of Justice last week, children who
are parentally abducted are at grave risk of extreme violence, and even murder,
at the hands of the taking parent.
If international parental child
abduction was not such a widespread problem, we
wouldn’t be discussing it. However, it is. And by raising awareness of the warning signs and risk factors associated international
parental child abduction that targets thousands upon
thousands of unsuspecting parents and defenseless children each year, we may
become a hero to a targeted child and parent.
I had an
opportunity to ask Peter several questions concerning abduction that I think
are important to share.
Why is the
summer vacation period considered child abduction season?
During the
school summer break in particular, parents who are intending to relocate to a
country outside of where the child is presently being raised, have more
opportunity to either illegally remove the child from their country of origin,
or have the opportunity to wrongfully detain the child in a foreign country
under an initial scheme of a so-called ‘family vacation’.
How are
international family vacation schemes used to abduct a child?
Usually the
parent intending to abduct the child will create a scheme to legally travel
abroad with the child. Sometimes this parent will invite the child’s other
parent to accompany them, while other times they may not. However, once they
get the child onto foreign soil, they will state that they are not returning,
and all too often – and men and women do this near equally – but they will
state that the other parent is abusive and returning the child to the country
of their original jurisdiction is a grave risk that puts the child in
danger. Unfortunately for the unsuspecting
targeted parent, the scheming abductor often makes a false police incident
report against them, citing threats of abuse, violence, or even the threat of
murder. And just like that, the targeted parent’s rights to access of the child
are usually removed pending an investigation. And it doesn’t matter that the
targeted parent has a right of custody.
Now, the rules of law in a foreign country apply. And while the targeted
parent is being charged, the scheming parent often is in court seeking a sole
custody and a restraining order against the targeted parent . . . who thought
they were going on a summer family vacation.
How prevalent
are summer vacation schemes like what you just described?
Sadly, they are
the norm. In fact, it is estimated that
nearly 85% of all international abductions take place during the summer. Of
these cases, I would anticipate by gaging the number of substantial cases the I
CARE Foundation has been involved with that the majority of abductions occur
when one parent wrongfully detains that child abroad.
When a child is
victim of parental abduction, who pays for the child’s return?
In the United
States, unfortunately when Congress succeeded to become a signatory member of
the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction,
they did not authorize the U.S. Department of State to provide financial
assistance for a parent who is trying to protect their kidnapped child. The
entire burden falls on the targeted parent. Recovery can easily run into the
hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Hopefully, with the passage of Senate Resolution 543 and federal reports
such as the one that was just issued by the Department of Justice citing the
grave risk a child is placed in, governments everywhere, including the U.S. and
Canadian governments, will provide financial relief for targeted families.
If a parent has
custody, why can’t they just go into the country where the child is being
wrongfully detained and bring that child home?
Because once
they attempt to, they could be charged with abduction in that country and put
in jail. It’s insane. But it’s a reality.
In fact, the U.S. Department of State specifically states that parents
should not ‘re-abduct’ their child. Instead, they should turn to the Hague
Convention . . . which based upon the inbound country, is not the most
effective tool.
Does the United
States have exit controls at our borders, and is it easy for a child abductor
to illegally remove a child from the country without consent of the child’s
other parent or consent from a court?
There are
limited controls in place to protect a child. One policy that does exist is the
Prevent Departure Program. However, there are grave concerns associated with a
child who has a right to citizenship to another country and dual passports. And
policy under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative allows minors traveling
by land or sea to the Canada, Mexico, the United States, and many Caribbean
island nations to only present a photocopy of a birth certificate.
In numerous
sworn testimonial letters written by parents who you have helped either recover
their child or stopped their child’s abduction from occurring, you have been
called a hero. Why do you use your own resources and fight to help other
parents?
It has been a privilege
to assist other parents and their children. I wish
I and the I CARE Foundation could help more parents who are trying to reunite
with their kidnaped child. But abduction is complicated: failure is the norm,
not success, as indicative of the extraordinarily low return rates. However, we
are becoming effective stopping abduction cases, and I think this is key. As to why I am willing to use my own
resources to help others, it’s because I can make a difference for children. No
child should ever be a victim of abduction. None.
What was your
most memorable moment during a reunification case?
They’re all
memorable. However, if one comes to mind it was the time I called my dear friend
to inform him that after 8 years of his child disappearing in war torn Ivory
Coast, that his child was 34,000 feet above Africa, and heading to New
York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport. But you know,
each legal recovery – the I CARE Foundation works through the legal system –
and there have been more than a few, really means a great deal. A great deal.
What can each of
us do to stop international child abduction?
The U.S. child abduction
rate dropped by over 15% during fiscal reporting years 2011 and 2012 in great
part because there was an increase in awareness amongst parents who fall into
the demographics typical of a targeted parent. Ironically, these same
demographics are the core audience for many parent blogs. I’ve said it often: the role of parent blog
writers in raising international child abduction awareness has helped stop a
large number of kidnappings, and has been nothing short of heroic. Parent
blog writers have become heroes to at-risk children and their families.
What should a
parent do if they believe their child is at risk of abduction?
Time is not on
their side, and they must act immediately and contact a qualified family law
attorney. If international abduction is in progress, parents must contact law
enforcement immediately, and then they should contact the Department of State’s Office
of Children’s Issues. They should also open up a case
with the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children. And they should read as much information
about abduction as possible by visiting websites that extensively cover
abduction such as the I
CARE Foundation
What’s the most difficult personal part of
fighting against abduction outside of seeing the hardship of families in crisis
or not being able to help a family in need?
Well, those two are by far the most
challenging. But you know, we’re
standing up to sociopathic kidnappers who have used a child in order to destroy
the other parent’s life. Standing up to abductors does not make you the most
popular person in the school yard, especially when these abductors think they
can threaten, defame, or bully you so you will back down.
You are one of the most published writers covering
international parental child abduction and have dedicated years of your life
stewarding the message of abduction prevention and risks to a child. Have you
seen any results?
I think the drop in the reported cases of outbound abduction
by 15% during 2011 and 2012 speak for itself especially when the previous
growth rate was nearly 20% per year, but there is another part of this story.
The unreported cases of abduction associated with undocumented residents is
believed to be at least 100% of the abduction cases, and though not measureable,
I know the number of undocumented residents the I CARE Foundation helped has
increased dramatically. I also know the number of abduction prevention cases
has increased dramatically. And that’s because parents are becoming aware of
abduction. Now let me make this clear: the decline in U.S. abductions is
because child advocates everywhere have acted to raise awareness and stop these
kidnappings. The work of active advocates today has been built on the
trailblazing work of those who proceeded us.
You’re a
best-selling author who has written a diverse collection of geopolitical
thrillers, yet you have spent several years of your life dedicated to helping
families in crisis. What can fans of your writing expect in the near future?
There was
sacrifice needed in order to play a role in helping prevent abduction, and part
of that personally came in the form of not publishing any hardcover books in a
few years, though Chasing
The Cyclone is available in e-book
everywhere. I intend to release the
accompanying hardcover in the near future … but right now, this is child
abduction season and my focus is to prevent as many kidnappings as possible. As for my writing, I am eager to return to
the world of storytelling as I love that magical world. I am truly looking forward to the hardcover
release of Chasing
The Cyclone for all my work on behalf of
children in many ways starts there. And I am so eager to finish the nearly
completed novels titled ‘Predators Games’, which is the sequel of ‘The
Den of the Assassin’, and the sequel of ‘Cloning
Christ’, titled ‘Quest’.
(End Interview
questions)
For more
information on Peter
Thomas Senese, please visit his official website.
For more
information about the I
CARE Foundation, please visit their official website.
And if you would
like to get involved and lend your voice to help stop international child
abduction, please contact the I CARE Foundation at mediarelations@stopchildabduction.org.
Summer Child Abduction Season and Heroes.
Peter Thomas Senese is the Founding Director of the highly respected I
CARE Foundation, a self-funded non-profit
organization that has been influential in significantly
reducing the number of international parental child abductions originating from
the United States by 15% during each of the last two
consecutive years. The I CARE Foundation can trace its roots to Peter’s widely
critically acclaimed novel ‘Chasing
The Cyclone’; a fast-paced legal thriller
about a father heroically searching for his internationally parentally
kidnapped child who had disappeared into a sea of billions of faces. From his
own personal experiences, Peter has become a highly visible and outspoken child
abduction prevention advocates: the I CARE Foundation – which Peter has donated
100% of his book sales to – not only has helped pass new laws and sought to modify
government policies geared to protect children, but the I CARE Foundation has
helped reunite many internationally kidnapped children while stopping an even
larger number of abductions. In fact, it
has been said that Peter
Thomas Senese’s ‘Chasing The Cyclone’ is a book of miracles; a view supported by many testimonial
letters from parents around the world.
During the summer
school vacation period, international parental child abductions will devastate a large number of unsuspecting families around the
world. The majority of these child
kidnappings originate from families with parents born from two different
countries. Often when the marriage or
partnership of a multinational relationship dissolves, the parent who was born
in a foreign country may want to return to their country of origin, and do so
with the child of the relationship. Knowing that the other parent probably will
not consent to having their child move abroad, the parent who has intent to
leave creates a scheme to internationally abduct the child. Unfortunately, the
majority of targeted individuals do not even know that an abduction scheme
exists, or the relative ease that exists to abduct.
Knowing the warning
signs of international parental child abduction is key.
These cases are
not rare, especially since we live in an ever-increasing global society.
Unfortunately,
each case of international abduction is extraordinarily abusive. Sadly, it is
estimated that only 10% of all parentally abducted children come home. And
tragically, as reported by the Department of Justice last week, children who
are parentally abducted are at grave risk of extreme violence, and even murder,
at the hands of the taking parent.
If international parental child
abduction was not such a widespread problem, we
wouldn’t be discussing it. However, it is. And by raising awareness of the warning signs and risk factors associated international
parental child abduction that targets thousands upon
thousands of unsuspecting parents and defenseless children each year, we may
become a hero to a targeted child and parent.
I had an
opportunity to ask Peter several questions concerning abduction that I think
are important to share.
Why is the
summer vacation period considered child abduction season?
During the
school summer break in particular, parents who are intending to relocate to a
country outside of where the child is presently being raised, have more
opportunity to either illegally remove the child from their country of origin,
or have the opportunity to wrongfully detain the child in a foreign country
under an initial scheme of a so-called ‘family vacation’.
How are
international family vacation schemes used to abduct a child?
Usually the
parent intending to abduct the child will create a scheme to legally travel
abroad with the child. Sometimes this parent will invite the child’s other
parent to accompany them, while other times they may not. However, once they
get the child onto foreign soil, they will state that they are not returning,
and all too often – and men and women do this near equally – but they will
state that the other parent is abusive and returning the child to the country
of their original jurisdiction is a grave risk that puts the child in
danger. Unfortunately for the unsuspecting
targeted parent, the scheming abductor often makes a false police incident
report against them, citing threats of abuse, violence, or even the threat of
murder. And just like that, the targeted parent’s rights to access of the child
are usually removed pending an investigation. And it doesn’t matter that the
targeted parent has a right of custody.
Now, the rules of law in a foreign country apply. And while the targeted
parent is being charged, the scheming parent often is in court seeking a sole
custody and a restraining order against the targeted parent . . . who thought
they were going on a summer family vacation.
How prevalent
are summer vacation schemes like what you just described?
Sadly, they are
the norm. In fact, it is estimated that
nearly 85% of all international abductions take place during the summer. Of
these cases, I would anticipate by gaging the number of substantial cases the I
CARE Foundation has been involved with that the majority of abductions occur
when one parent wrongfully detains that child abroad.
When a child is
victim of parental abduction, who pays for the child’s return?
In the United
States, unfortunately when Congress succeeded to become a signatory member of
the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction,
they did not authorize the U.S. Department of State to provide financial
assistance for a parent who is trying to protect their kidnapped child. The
entire burden falls on the targeted parent. Recovery can easily run into the
hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Hopefully, with the passage of Senate Resolution 543 and federal reports
such as the one that was just issued by the Department of Justice citing the
grave risk a child is placed in, governments everywhere, including the U.S. and
Canadian governments, will provide financial relief for targeted families.
If a parent has
custody, why can’t they just go into the country where the child is being
wrongfully detained and bring that child home?
Because once
they attempt to, they could be charged with abduction in that country and put
in jail. It’s insane. But it’s a reality.
In fact, the U.S. Department of State specifically states that parents
should not ‘re-abduct’ their child. Instead, they should turn to the Hague
Convention . . . which based upon the inbound country, is not the most
effective tool.
Does the United
States have exit controls at our borders, and is it easy for a child abductor
to illegally remove a child from the country without consent of the child’s
other parent or consent from a court?
There are
limited controls in place to protect a child. One policy that does exist is the
Prevent Departure Program. However, there are grave concerns associated with a
child who has a right to citizenship to another country and dual passports. And
policy under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative allows minors traveling
by land or sea to the Canada, Mexico, the United States, and many Caribbean
island nations to only present a photocopy of a birth certificate.
In numerous
sworn testimonial letters written by parents who you have helped either recover
their child or stopped their child’s abduction from occurring, you have been
called a hero. Why do you use your own resources and fight to help other
parents?
It has been a privilege
to assist other parents and their children. I wish
I and the I CARE Foundation could help more parents who are trying to reunite
with their kidnaped child. But abduction is complicated: failure is the norm,
not success, as indicative of the extraordinarily low return rates. However, we
are becoming effective stopping abduction cases, and I think this is key. As to why I am willing to use my own
resources to help others, it’s because I can make a difference for children. No
child should ever be a victim of abduction. None.
What was your
most memorable moment during a reunification case?
They’re all
memorable. However, if one comes to mind it was the time I called my dear friend
to inform him that after 8 years of his child disappearing in war torn Ivory
Coast, that his child was 34,000 feet above Africa, and heading to New
York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport. But you know,
each legal recovery – the I CARE Foundation works through the legal system –
and there have been more than a few, really means a great deal. A great deal.
What can each of
us do to stop international child abduction?
The U.S. child abduction
rate dropped by over 15% during fiscal reporting years 2011 and 2012 in great
part because there was an increase in awareness amongst parents who fall into
the demographics typical of a targeted parent. Ironically, these same
demographics are the core audience for many parent blogs. I’ve said it often: the role of parent blog
writers in raising international child abduction awareness has helped stop a
large number of kidnappings, and has been nothing short of heroic. Parent
blog writers have become heroes to at-risk children and their families.
What should a
parent do if they believe their child is at risk of abduction?
Time is not on
their side, and they must act immediately and contact a qualified family law
attorney. If international abduction is in progress, parents must contact law
enforcement immediately, and then they should contact the Department of State’s Office
of Children’s Issues. They should also open up a case
with the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children. And they should read as much information
about abduction as possible by visiting websites that extensively cover
abduction such as the I
CARE Foundation
What’s the most difficult personal part of
fighting against abduction outside of seeing the hardship of families in crisis
or not being able to help a family in need?
Well, those two are by far the most
challenging. But you know, we’re
standing up to sociopathic kidnappers who have used a child in order to destroy
the other parent’s life. Standing up to abductors does not make you the most
popular person in the school yard, especially when these abductors think they
can threaten, defame, or bully you so you will back down.
You are one of the most published writers covering
international parental child abduction and have dedicated years of your life
stewarding the message of abduction prevention and risks to a child. Have you
seen any results?
I think the drop in the reported cases of outbound abduction
by 15% during 2011 and 2012 speak for itself especially when the previous
growth rate was nearly 20% per year, but there is another part of this story.
The unreported cases of abduction associated with undocumented residents is
believed to be at least 100% of the abduction cases, and though not measureable,
I know the number of undocumented residents the I CARE Foundation helped has
increased dramatically. I also know the number of abduction prevention cases
has increased dramatically. And that’s because parents are becoming aware of
abduction. Now let me make this clear: the decline in U.S. abductions is
because child advocates everywhere have acted to raise awareness and stop these
kidnappings. The work of active advocates today has been built on the
trailblazing work of those who proceeded us.
You’re a
best-selling author who has written a diverse collection of geopolitical
thrillers, yet you have spent several years of your life dedicated to helping
families in crisis. What can fans of your writing expect in the near future?
There was
sacrifice needed in order to play a role in helping prevent abduction, and part
of that personally came in the form of not publishing any hardcover books in a
few years, though Chasing
The Cyclone is available in e-book
everywhere. I intend to release the
accompanying hardcover in the near future … but right now, this is child
abduction season and my focus is to prevent as many kidnappings as possible. As for my writing, I am eager to return to
the world of storytelling as I love that magical world. I am truly looking forward to the hardcover
release of Chasing
The Cyclone for all my work on behalf of
children in many ways starts there. And I am so eager to finish the nearly
completed novels titled ‘Predators Games’, which is the sequel of ‘The
Den of the Assassin’, and the sequel of ‘Cloning
Christ’, titled ‘Quest’.
(End Interview
questions)
For more
information on Peter
Thomas Senese, please visit his official website.
For more
information about the I
CARE Foundation, please visit their official website.
And if you would
like to get involved and lend your voice to help stop international child
abduction, please contact the I CARE Foundation at mediarelations@stopchildabduction.org.
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