After a devastating 7.0 earthquake in Haiti last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) granted humanitarian parole to certain classes of Haitian orphans, including those in the process of adoption by Americans. The humanitarian parole policy grants temporary admission to the U.S. in emergency cases. DHS also granted Temporary Protected Status to Haitian nationals already present in the U.S. when the earthquake hit. Such Haitians will be allowed to continue living and working in the US for the next 18 months, despite their immigration status. The massive earthquake on January 12th caused major damage to Haiti’s infrastructure, including damaging up to 50 percent of all buildings. Thousands of U.S. military troops have been sent to Haiti to assist Haitian law officers and international peacekeepers in quelling rising lawlessness. Haitian government officials estimate the death toll to be as high as 100,000 to 200,000.
Sources:
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2010/01/us-grants-humanitarian-parole-to-haiti.php
