Turmoil for some Haitian Adoptions in the US

Apparently, the Haitian humanitarian parole program for orphans instituted after the earthquake has had some unanticipated consequences that point out the pitfalls of implementing such a program quickly and without many resources. Last week the New York Times ran an article about the chaos of US adoptions from Haiti, including lack of proper paperwork and even not having families to adopt children brought here under the humanitarian parole status. Read the full article here.

Haiti Adoption News and Notes

Last month Ruth Claiborne of Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. finalized the adoption of two children from Haiti, brought to the United States on humanitarian parole. A limited number of Haitian orphans whose adoptions were already in process were allowed into the United States soon after the devastating earthquake in January. This is different from typical Haitian adoptions, where the adoption is finalized in Haiti and then domesticated in the United States. Haiti is still currently closed to new adoptions, although they are continuing to process adoptions initiated prior to the earthquake.

In related news, the Help Haiti Act of 2010 as well as the Lofgren bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on July 20, 2010. The Help Haiti Act, also known as as the Fortenberry Act, aims to give Haitian children who came here through humanitarian parole the same status as children who come through IR-4 visas. The Lofgren bill will change the age limit of the child from 16 years old to 18 years old for purposes of immigration.

Adopting from Haiti

Since the earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010, our firm has received multiple inquiries from people interested in adopting Haitian orphans. While it is likely that adoptions from Haiti will resume eventually, no new applications are being accepted at this time. Instead, child welfare advocates around the globe agree that the best practice is to search for relatives and local caregivers for children in Haiti, while helping the nation of Haiti to rebuild and implement an improved child welfare system.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute recently convened to hold "Building a Strong Foundation for Children and Families of Haiti", at which international experts came together to discuss and brainstorm about most effective ways to serve Haiti's children and families.

Adoptions that were in process prior to the earthquake continue. Some families were able to bring their children home through humanitarian parole, a short-term allocation that made it possible for children already identified and in the process of being adopted, to immigrate to the United States without first being adopted in Haiti. Instead the initial adoptions of these children are taking place in the US.