More than 50 American couples trying to adopt Romanian children have been stranded with their infants for weeks in Bucharest hotels and rented apartments, unable to obtain permission from U.S. officials to bring the children to the United States.

The Americans, drawn to Romania by news reports of orphanages filled with sick and dying children, are trapped by new Romanian laws and tougher enforcement of U.S. laws by officials. Both American and Romanian officials are concerned about reports of baby-buying.

Romania has advised the State Department that adoptions will be suspended soon for several weeks to give officials time to implement tighter regulations.

The State Department yesterday ...