Vietnam has halted all adoptions to would-be American parents of Vietnamese children, CNN recently reported. The ban is in response to allegations made by the United States Embassy in Hanoi that some families were ”paid, tricked, or forced” into relinquishing their children.

The ban will put a premature end to an adoption agreement between the two countries. Applicants who have not yet been matched with a child will likely be left out in the cold, despite the time and money they’ve so far invested. It is uncertain when or if the program will be renewed.

Guatamala has also banned American adoptions in response to similar claims.

This news is a crushing blow to legitimite adoption agencies in Vietnam.  Last year, Americas adopted 828 Vietnamese children.