Over 70 adopted Haitian children remain stranded as gang violence traps Port-au-Prince

More than 70 children adopted by American parents remain entangled in Haiti as they are caught in the crossfire of violent gang activity paralyzing much of Port-au-Prince since March. Despite many of the parents having completed adoptions or being in the final stage of an exhausting process, the children cannot leave Haiti to unite with their adoptive families in the United States. They have been stuck as a result of continuing office shutdowns and escalating violence, leaving their U.S. parents increasingly desperate as conditions worsen.

“Some of these children have full and final adoptions, and some even have visas,” said Michelle Reed, an adoptive parent from Florida awaiting her adopted son’s arrival. 

“But with the airport now closed and Port-au-Prince under gang’s siege, they’re stuck in Haiti, facing the violence.”

Three children already have visas, and another 23 are awaiting either Haitian passports or U.S. Embassy visa appointments. Over 55 adoptive families—some of them of Haitian origin, adopting their relatives—join their voices and continue to plead with the Departments of State (DOS) and Homeland Security (DHS) for help. They implore the U.S. authorities to authorize their children to leave Haiti and complete the final adoption formalities in the U.S.

 “It’s clear that DOS, DHS, and USCIS have made a choice to delay processing. They’ve abandoned our children to wait out violence that only worsens by the day.”

A U.S. Adoptive Parent Awaiting the Arrival of his Child from Haiti

For the remaining 44 children whose files are pending in a non-functioning Haitian court, the families urge U.S. authorities to waive specific requirements, including passports, to facilitate their departure for humanitarian and security reasons. 

Reports from Haiti continue to paint a grim picture, with blocked roads, pervasive gang control, and limited access to essential services affecting families across the 25 U.S. states, where adoptive parents anxiously await their children’s safe return. 

Since Nov. 11, the situation has grown dire, with gang attacks targeting even humanitarian services. A Doctors Without Borders ambulance was ambushed on Nov. 13, killing two patients during a medical transport​. 

Dr. Deborah Pierre, one of the very few urologists in the country, was also killed by gangs.

Families worry that the children, many of whom are confined to orphanages, are at risk as violence and gang control worsen across the capital city.                                                                                                         

All schools in downtown Port-au-Prince have been closed. Several large and medium-sized businesses, particularly along Delmas Road, stopped operating during the week. Commercial banks also kept their doors closed to avoid being robbed. 

Armed groups have taken to the streets, with at least 20 reported armed confrontations and several roadblocks erected, limiting movement across the city, said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN general secretary António Guterres.                                                                                                      

Compounding the crisis, the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince remains limited in operations, repeatedly canceling visa appointments amid rising security concerns. Although the DOS initially requested detailed information on adoption cases in the lead-up to U.S. elections, families report that federal agencies have yet to provide subsequent assistance for those in the final stages of adoption

U.S. and Haitian authorities are communicating mixed messages

In response to Congress members’ advocacy in favor of the adopted children, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has reportedly said that it is “doing all it can to expedite the children’s departure” but alleged that “Haiti’s government is blocking its efforts.” 

In an Oct. 9 letter sent to the adoption service providers working on the cases, the DOS’ Office of Children’s Issues indicated that the director of Haitian Immigration and Emigration was holding the children back due to passport requirements.

However, adoptive families spread across more than 25 states do not believe that Haiti’s government is hindering efforts to secure the children’s safe passage out of the country by not willing to waive passport requirements. 

At the end of September, Stéphane Vincent, director of the Haitian Immigration and Emigration Office, echoed the adoptive parents’ presumptions. Replying to an email from The Haitian Times requesting his comment, Vincent wrote:

“The Directorate of Immigration and Emigration is committed to expediting all adoption-related processes and is never the source of delays. We operate within the legal framework, and any changes or waivers would require coordination with other relevant Haitian authorities and the U.S. Embassy.”

“As of now, my office has not been officially informed of the specific issue involving 55 prospective parents and 70 children in adoptions. Additionally, we have not received any dossiers regarding a request to waive passport requirements.”

However,  officials at the DOS confirmed that Vincent reiterated during an Oct. 2 meeting with the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince that, despite the worsening crisis, his agency does not support waiving the passport requirement for adopted children. He emphasized that passport and exit requirements will remain, citing that all immigration offices continue to operate normally, according to the DOS.

Security restrictions and administrative hurdles

.Last month, the DOS held a webinar on safety and security in Haiti. According to attendees, consular officials advised families that children would need to “shelter in place” until conditions improve. Families are not allowed to move the children from their designated orphanages, even though many orphanages are in high-risk zones.

“It’s clear that DOS, DHS, and USCIS have made a choice to delay processing,” said one adoptive parent who requested anonymity due to the matter’s sensitivity. “They’ve abandoned our children to wait out violence that only worsens by the day.”

Further complicating the process is a strike at Haiti’s Directorate General of Taxes, known as DGI, which has halted crucial services such as passport stamping and legalization. The strike makes it impossible for families to obtain the necessary documentation, even as DOS and the U.S. Embassy work with Haitian authorities to expedite passports for adopted children.

In the Oct. 9 communication with adoption service providers, the State Department noted improvements in passport processing timelines for adopted Haitian children, with the usual wait reduced from three to six months to two weeks. Yet, the strike at DGI offices across Port-au-Prince has disrupted this timeline, further stranding children and families.

Calls for immediate action

With increasing gang-related violence and no foreseeable solutions, U.S. families are urging the government to prioritize the children’s safety. Some families say the issue is critical, noting that government agencies have been more responsive to other groups, including Haitian American citizens with pending Humanitarian Parole applications.

For many families, the wait has become a race against time.

 “This crisis was predicted, but nothing was done to help,” one parent said. “The Embassy was evacuated weeks ago due to safety risks, but our children are expected to shelter in place under the same conditions.”

As of now, there is no clear solution in sight for the stranded children. Adoptive families, supported by advocacy groups, remain determined to bring attention to their plight, pressing both the U.S. and Haitian governments for immediate and decisive action.

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Over 70 adopted Haitian children remain stranded as gang violence traps Port-au-Prince was first posted on November 15, 2024 at 9:46 am.