How to help Haitian orphans adopted by US families

The situation in Haiti is dire. This month, Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, called the situation in Port-au-prince “a living hell.” The World Food Program reports that 4.7 million people — almost half of the country’s population — are facing a food crisis. Gangs control 60% of the territory in the capital city and appear to be gaining ground despite international assistance to the Haitian police.

Unfortunately, the situation may get even worse before it gets better.

Children living in orphanages abroad are among the world’s most vulnerable people. There are several U.S. families that have completed legal adoptions, approved by both the U.S. and Haitian governments, but whose children still live in orphanages because they cannot obtain a Haitian passport.

This is an unintended consequence of the Biden administration’s Humanitarian Parole Program, which has led to long passport lines and police officers fleeing the country.

I recently joined other colleagues representing adoption agencies, adoption attorneys and other advocates in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, calling on him to take action on behalf of these children and their U.S. families.

Children who have completed the long adoption process also need a passport. But unlike regular passport applicants, the Haitian government requires an appointment to process applications in adoption cases. Because of the surge in demand, the Haitian government is no longer issuing these appointments. It’s a tragic Catch22 that has left U.S. families with no way to bring their children home.

However, even if the Haitian government scheduled passport appointments for these adopted children, the security situation at the passport office is extremely concerning. Recently, tear gas was deployed at the passport office, which caused the facility to be shut down.

Every day brings more shocking reports, photos and videos of desperate people scaling fences, fighting with security and being beaten with batons. Despite the chaos, the State Department has repeatedly assured adoptive families that the passport offices are open and functioning. But those statements are contrary to what the Haitian director of immigration told Miami Herald reporter Jacqueline Charles: “(W)e can’t even get to the doors ourselves.”

The State Department has the authority to issue waivers that could unite these children with their families soon, likely within a week. Passport waivers are authorized under the law, but the department must request them. Passport waivers were granted last fall during the Haitian fuel crisis. We’re asking the State Department to do so again for children with completed, legal adoptions.

Haiti faces many challenges, and adoption advocacy groups, adoption agencies and families stand in support of the Haitian people as they confront these problems. But the State Department’s failure to use its legal authority to grant passport waivers pits the interests of children living in orphanages against those who desperately seek to immigrate to the United States.

There is no rational reason for the department to refuse to exercise its authority to provide a safe, legal alternative to these children.

Its own Foreign Affairs Manual calls intercountry adoption “of the highest priority.” It’s time for the State Department to act on that commitment.