By: Joshua Finley
Multiple organizations, including the National Council for Adoption (NCFA) and the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA), are raising the alarm and urgently calling for immediate action to ensure the safety of approximately 70 Haitian children currently in the adoption process. These organizations, along with several congressional offices, are advocating for swift intervention, as the escalating crisis in Haiti has put the children at severe risk. Violence, instability, and gang control have rapidly worsened, turning an already challenging situation into a life-threatening ordeal for these vulnerable children, who are now caught in a humanitarian emergency.
The Haitian crisis has been exacerbated by a recent State of Security Emergency declared in response to increasing gang activity, violence, and lawlessness. This declaration has highlighted the worsening conditions on the ground, where civilians—including the orphans—face an ever-present threat of kidnapping, human trafficking, and other forms of exploitation. In addition to these dangers, severe shortages of food, clean water, and essential medical supplies plague the country. The vulnerable children awaiting adoption are not immune to these hardships and are at heightened risk of becoming victims of the chaos around them.
Adoption Service Providers (ASPs) are encountering significant logistical challenges in trying to safeguard and transport these children from remote areas such as Hinche, Cap-Haïtien, and Leogane to the capital city of Port-au-Prince, where they need to complete essential adoption procedures. Even though the Haitian government has expressed willingness to issue exit letters, which would allow the children to leave the country, bureaucratic hurdles remain. Completing adoption and visa processes within Haiti is still a requirement, causing severe delays. As a result, the children continue to be exposed to unnecessary and dangerous situations, compounding the crisis.
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The dysfunction in the Haitian court system is another significant barrier to the adoption process. Many adoption cases have been stalled for months due to the unavailability of judges, which has created an overwhelming backlog. With the courts barely functioning, adoption proceedings have ground to a halt, leaving many families in an agonizing limbo. For prospective adoptive parents, this delay is emotionally devastating, as they fear for the safety of their children, all while feeling powerless to bring them home. Additionally, the U.S. Embassy has suspended some of its services and is only processing adoption cases “as conditions permit,” prolonging the delays and uncertainty.
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In response to these urgent threats, AAAA has been calling for a humanitarian approach to expedite the relocation of these children and to address the bureaucratic delays that are putting their lives at risk. AAAA’s President, Sherriann Hicks, highlighted the urgency of the situation in a recent statement: “Given the escalating crisis and the severe threats facing these children, we strongly urge authorities to prioritize their safety and act decisively to prevent further harm.” Hicks’s comments reflect the deep frustration and concern felt by many within the adoption community, who feel that immediate action is essential to prevent a tragedy.
Adding to the pressure, NCFA has launched a petition, which has already garnered over 7,500 signatures, to push authorities to waive specific paperwork requirements for travel. According to NCFA, “These waivers have been used in less serious situations, and should be employed now, given the extreme violence and safety concerns in Haiti. We must prioritize these children’s well-being and allow them to travel to safety as soon as possible.” The petition underscores the critical need for an emergency waiver process to fast-track the children’s departure from Haiti.
The demands from NCFA, AAAA, and other organizations emphasize the need for immediate action and a compassionate response to the crisis. They argue that these children cannot continue to endure the dangerous conditions in Haiti, as their lives are being jeopardized every day that they remain in the country. Congress and various government agencies are being called upon to step in, streamline the process, and safeguard the lives of these Haitian orphans.
Despite the overwhelming obstacles, the adoption community remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for the safety and well-being of these children. Both NCFA and AAAA have vowed to continue pressuring government authorities, not only in the United States but also in Haiti, to find a swift resolution to the crisis. They are pushing for reforms and emergency actions that would facilitate the safe evacuation and adoption of these children into stable, loving homes.
As the situation continues to evolve, these organizations and their supporters are hopeful that swift measures will soon be taken to ensure the safe adoption and relocation of Haitian orphans. The safety and future of these children are at stake, and they cannot afford to wait any longer.
Published By: Aize Perez
