Hopeful?

Another mom sent me this. She says she found it on an adoptive family group on the net. I added the bold text to point out the parts that are hopeful to me.

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From: Sisk, Jennifer Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010
"Update on Haitian Adop

I’ll start with the good news: Over 200 Haitian orphans have been brought to the United States and have been released to their permanent families.

For the children who were in the adoption process who remain in Haiti, I know that you have been hearing disturbing news about the halting of the processing of these adoptions. The Haitian government has asked that a better process be set up to let them know which children are leaving Haiti. This change in policy came about due to concerns by the Haitian government that children were leaving who did not fall under conditions pre-approved by the Haitian government. The Department of State is working on an overall procedure to allay the Haitian government’s concerns. In the meantime the Embassy in Haiti and the Department of Homeland Security(DHS) in Washington, D.C. is still processing children and paperwork. We are being told that no specific quota has been set of numbers of children from any particular agency or group whose paperwork can be processed in a given day. The only thing that U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of State have halted is the actual physical handing over of travel documents. Senator Udall is continuing to talk with the State Department about these recent developments and how our office can ensure all these children are united with their families immediately.

Once children reach the United States, there is a chain of custody that is as follows: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and then to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and finally to Health and Human Services (HHS).Those children who come in under humanitarian parole are being processed at the port of entry. Their entering the United States does not automatically result in the transfer of custody to the parents. The job of HHS is to grant custody to the adoptive families. There have been instances of children being put overnight in group facilities in order to rest or get medical care, but so far the process has been successful in placing children with their adoptive families.

I believe I have a reasonably accurate list of the children who have been united with their permanent families. Please continue to e-mail me if our office can help in your particular case.

Jennifer Sisk | Legislative Correspondent | U.S. Senator Mark E. Udall |

So what does this mean? Perhaps it means that they really are still working on the paperwork and they just aren't allowed to give it to us.

That plane is going to PAP on Thursday to deliver humanitarian supplies one way or another. Now we need to pray that Haitian government can come to a quick resolution to this current situation so that when that plane leaves - our babies can be on it.

KEEP PRAYING!

(or as they sing on "Finding Nemo" - Just Keep Swimming")