Every year many Haitian orphans are adopted by US couples. After the earthquake, many of these adoptions had to be put on hold due to the paperwork in the Haitian Justice buildings being lost when the structure was destroyed. Without those visas, the children could not enter the United States legally – no matter what status the adoption was in.

Yesterday, the United States decided to grant emergency visas to more than 100 orphaned Haitians (both in the process of being adopted and those who have not yet begun the paperwork). This will allow them to come to the safety of the United States and be cared for here while their adoptions are finished.