Legislative Hope

Dear Friends,

You have all been so supportive of us through the tragedy in Haiti, your advocacy in helping us get back safely into the United States with our children, and in the months that have followed as we've taken time to heal, process and get strong. We've had such love and support shown through the frustrating challenges of seeking out the legal adoptions and as we try to understand the immigration process.

At this time, there are three U.S. Senators who have proposed legislation to help the Haitian children that came into the U.S. under "Humanitarian Parole" status after the earthquake gain more immediate citizenship status.

Currently, the USCIS is requiring Haitian children who entered the U.S. on a Humanitarian Parole visa after the earthquake to remain in the country for a period of two years prior to being eligible for US citizenship, even if their adoption has already been finalized in the U.S. judicial system. Without the rights of citizenship, these children and their families could face multiple challenges. In our own family, it may very well limit or prevent international travel and thus force us to give up our work in Haiti for the next few years.

The Help HAITI Act of 2010 (also known as the Help Haitian Adoptees Immediately to Integrate Act of 2010) was introduced to both the House and Senate in May and has already been referred to the corresponding Committees on the Judiciary. If passed, these Acts “authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to adjust to permanent resident status an alien who was granted parole admission into the United States pursuant to the humanitarian parole policy for certain Haitian orphans announced on January 18, 2010” (www.opencongress.org).

In order to give these children every benefit and assurance of stability after an already stressful ordeal,please contact your U.S. Senator or Representative in the House of Representatives and ask them to support this legislation (HR 5283 in the House and S 3411 in the Senate).

Contact your Representative:

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Contact your Senator:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

In the name of all orphans looking for a permanent home, we ask you to please share this information with your friends and family and supporters of international adoption everywhere.

Thank you once again for advocating for the children of Haiti, for adoptive families in the States, for us.