DHS Announces Humanitarian Parole Policy for Haitian Orphans

On Jan. 18, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced a humanitarian parole policy allowing orphaned children from Haiti to enter the United States temporarily on an individual basis to ensure that they receive the care they need— as part of the U.S. government’s ongoing support of international recovery efforts after last week’s earthquake.

DHS and DOS are working together to issue travel documents (either immigrant visas or humanitarian parole authorizations) for children who fall into the two categories described below. Once these children are cleared to travel, the U.S. Embassy in Port au Prince will facilitate their evacuation to the United States so they may be united with their American adoptive parents.

The parole policy applies to the following children:

• Children who have been legally confirmed as orphans eligible for intercountry adoption by the Government of Haiti and are being adopted by U.S. citizens.

• Children who have been previously identified by an adoption service provider or facilitator as eligible for intercountry adoption and have been matched to prospective U.S. citizen adoptive parents.

If you would like more information on this humanitarian parole policy, call USCIS at (800) 375-5283.

Stay tuned to www.bashyamspiro.com for more information as it becomes available.