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.
Kim and Patrick, I contacted both my representative and senator requesting support of this legislation. Good luck and God's Blessings to you--so wonderful to hear that Solomon and Valencia are recognized lawfully as your children--Oh Happy Day indeed! Loretta
ReplyDeleteDear Kim and Patrick,
ReplyDeleteI have just sent e-mail letters to Congressman Goodlotte, Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb, all of Virginia. I did contact them earlier, but my request for help involved concerns outside their state, so nothing happened. This time, asking that they vote for (and perhaps co-sponsor) the "Help HAITI Act of 2010" may be
more successful.
We want you to know, that your experiences in Haiti, particularly since the earthquake, have been spread far and wide among our associations, and we are eager to see the two of you return to the work and the home to which you are so committed. Speaking as a WJC alum, I am proud that you (Kim) are an alum also. It gives me much hope that your motivation for Christian Service still survives at WJC!
p.s.: The children look great!
Ella & Elmo Pascale
1578 Hawthorne Circle
Harrisonburg, VA 22802-2490
we contacted when we found out about this via facebook network. thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting the article, K&P . . . we're still fighting for you 4. :)
ReplyDeleteKim and Patrick, we will continue to work on our senator and representative here in STL...after all, your mission to Haiti is close to our hearts...to get this citizenship measure out of legislative limbo. We read your announcement from Global Ministries today. We are heartbroken you had to make this choice, but we understand. We continue to pray and advocate for Haiti and CONASPEH. We also pray for the four of you as you take the next steps in your life. Whatever you do, we hope you blog about it at some point. Reading your posts these past two years, since before you even arrived in PAP, has given us a window through which to understand more about Haiti but also about the heart and soul of people like you and Patrick who answer God's call to serve, selflessly, in part on behalf of those who for one reason or another cannot go, but hope to be part of supporting such a mission. For better or worse, we feel like you are part of our family based on your writing. God bless you and your children. Judi and Norm Linville in St. Louis (we are sorry we missed Patrick here last week--we were at Quadrennial!)
ReplyDelete