there are many reasons this is done…
#1 is because people want infants. & there is like a 7+ year waiting list to get a infant/newborn orphan in the US
& some agencys only alow famlies with no children to adopt an infant/newborn
#2 out of all the orphans in american only like 25% or less are available for adoption due to leagal reasons. i think this is still allowed but if the parents are in jail or rehab, etc even if its for a life sentence… they can refuse the release of their children.
there are others but i can’t think of them right now.