Afghanistan
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled on February 12, 2026, that U.S. Marine Joshua Mast and his wife, Stephanie, will retain custody of an Afghan orphan they adopted in 2020, despite substantial legal controversy and opposition. The adoption, granted while the girl was still living with relatives in Afghanistan, was challenged by those relatives and criticized by the U.S. government. Initially orphaned during a U.S. military raid in 2019, the child was placed with Afghan family members deemed appropriate by the Afghan government and approved by U.S. officials.
Despite findings by lower courts that the adoption was deeply flawed and potentially fraudulent, the Virginia Supreme Court reversed those decisions, citing state law that prohibits adoption challenges after six months. The justices ruled the Afghan relatives had no standing, as their parental status wasn't legally validated. A scathing dissent from three justices argued the Masts misled the court and accused the legal process of being tainted by privilege and deception. The ruling dismissed concerns by the U.S. government that the adoption could be viewed as international child abduction and have serious foreign policy implications. This decision seemingly ends a long and bitter legal battle over the child’s future.
