Custody battles and domestic violence are heartbreakingly difficult to deal with when the entire drama happens in a single location. The further the physical distance, the more heartbreaking the difficulty. Across National borders, whatever the two nations involved? ? ? Your kidding, right? ? ? If my international travel experience has taught me anything, it is that international family disputes are a nightmare, at best.

Gentle empathy and many prayers for the child.

I suggest you to stay out of it. Completely and immediately. It is political dynamite. Well. . . That child needs all the prayers he can get. Prayers in progress. . .

Prayer and hope. I can't think of better. Without evidence and without jurisdiction, US cops can't do anything, sooo.... hugs for you, prayers for child.

I did tell him to go to the American embassy that they would probably fly them back to US him and the child. BUT the grandparents do not want to let the child go that would require the Mexican police to step in and yes that is scary.

Now a days with pizzagate stuff (that I believe its happening) who are children safe with? My gut would be WHO is the child not afraid of? sounds like only the grandmother.

So difficult. Heartbreaking I saw pics of the boy 3 year old. By what the father calls "spoiled" that he cries a lot and runs to his grandma. It is just signs of TRAUMA.

Very disturbing.

I also saw threatening text messages sent from US by the mother telling him IF he tried to take the child from her parents that her and her father already had people "waiting" for him outside and the father threatened him too.

They do not allow to take him alone even to the park. But the mother doesn't want the child in the US with her.

OK, this is not your circus, and there may be good reasons neither parent has that child. Unknown to you. You could be getting played. Please, walk away from this before you become someone's pawn.

My two cents, take or leave, spend or toss in the sewer, whatever.

I was that kid growing up in at 7, not 3, in Guadalajara, Mexico to mentally ill parents, then later in Montevideo, Uruguay. Until I was 17. People from the US and Latin Americans both met me and saw the abuse and neglect I was living through all the time. Especially the guests from the US who visited and stayed in our home.

Finally, one of them was a college president who visited and stayed with us when I was 17, and that's who got me out. He as college president had the power to admit me to his college, and so after visiting us in December of my senior high school year I was in his college as a student two weeks later in mid year in January. My healing then began.

Unless you have that power and the child is that age, though, kaisad, there's nothing you can do. Even if everyone involved were in the USA it would be likely little could be done though you might call social services as you should. Across those borders, though, it was my experience as a child that US authorities abroad could do little for me, and local authorities were so corrupt they wouldn't.

Speaking from the point of view of a kid like that, my point is for you not to be surprised if you can't solve this problem. I understood that and learned to bide my time until the right person from the USA came along who could spring me. It doesn't sound like you're that person for this kid quite yet. That person will come along some day and they will jump at their chance, though, if that kid's like me.

Kasaid, this is one big complicated mess. Mother didn't want the child, so placed him with his grandparents; father wants full custody, but not likely he will get it. He needs to accept that in today's world many grandparents are raising their grandchildren. He has visitation. If he can accept that, and her family sees that, he may get more access. To some degree, this young boy has more security than in his earlier years. Grandmother is his safe place. The child needs to be most important focus. Just my opinion. Hugs to all.

I have no idea what can be done about this.... I'll put up a list of crisis resources we have on DS

Some are for child abuse so calling one of these numbers may be able to give you some answers

Big hug.... xo

https://support.dailystrength.org/hc/en-us/articles/207430776-What-if-I-need-emergency-help-

Thanks so much for all the replies.
@Leo I am well aware he may be lying.
Due to my abuse that besides being sexual there was crazy abuse and crazy neglect I would be like no existent.
For months many would place me in the top area of the house every day many hours a day with no interaction at all. I developed an attachment disorder,
I do not attach or bond or feel like I have to save anyone.
is good and bad.
I am concern for the child and IF I can advise this guy in just a few things. He sounds like he also comes from a very dysfunctional childhood.

@SunCloud thanks so much for the links I gave him a few to contact too IN case he is saying the truth.

@Arfie thanks I am only referring him of what I would do IF it was me, but not going with him anywhere. But yeah one has to be careful who know who's the bad guy here. Hard to tell

@SimpsomsOK yeah I hear you. You are right on. Only the grandparents do not have legal custody of the child.

@Muji we have so much in common growing up bi-lingual in different countries, cultures, and yes in both a lot of people saw my abuse and did NOTHING aided and abetted and not call the authorities as they should have.

The latest was that he ended up calling the cops and they told him he has to go through the I guess legal custody battle and deal with this in family courts but they could not just take the child.

Then he said today the father and brother of the girl beat him up and he was too scared to call the cops.

The American Embassy told him they could fly him out back to US to get the child's birth certificate so that they can issue him another passport.

I like to help people IF I can and I know I can not solve this prob. Was just wondering what others thought.

Again sounds like the grandma is the safest. Because I asked him "as they were beating you up what was the grandma saying" he said "telling them to stop".

Oh well hopefully that child will end up with whoever is the safest for now.