Haiti orphans unlikely to land in Nevada

Images of orphaned Haitian children landing on U.S. soil have flooded news outlets since the earthquake hit last month.

But adoption officials in the state say don't expect any children orphaned by the massive natural disaster to head to Nevada anytime soon, if at all.

Most of the adoptions making headlines were in progress prior to Jan. 12 and were not a result of the earthquake that flattened the capital city of the Western Hemisphere's poorest country.

Before a child can be legally taken to the United States, both the federal and Haitian governments must determine the child is an orphan. The Haitian government also must approve every child's departure from the country.

The repercussions for not following the laws are serious. Ten American missionaries recently were charged in Haiti for kidnapping after failing to produce proper documentation for 33 children they say they were trying to take to the Dominican Republic for safety, according to reports.

"There are appropriate ways to address this," said Chrystal Main, spokeswoman for the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services. "The best interest of the child may not be removing them from their home country and relatives and moving them to an entirely different culture."

Main said the best way to help homeless orphans is for relief organizations to set up secure housing in Haiti where children recognize the culture and can begin to heal from the earthquake's devastating effects.

International adoptions are worked through private agencies. However, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, a local private agency, is not currently involved in national or international adoption involving Haitian children, said Sharon Mann, spokeswoman.

Officials from the International Social Service, a global nonprofit social work agency, said, "International adoption should not take place in a situation of war or natural disaster, given that these events make it impossible to verify the personal and family situation of children."

Problems arise from the unidentified dead piling up in mass graves throughout the country. More than 150,000 people have died from the 7.0 earthquake -- making it impossible to find parents in some instances. Even if both parents have died, efforts to reunite the child with relatives or extended family are to be given priority.

According to the federal government, nearly 500 Haitian orphans were granted humanitarian parole, and several hundred are now in the United States.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano authorized the use of humanitarian parole, which sped up or waived adoption paperwork in most cases.

The U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services is recommending that people interested in sponsoring orphaned children, who are earthquake victims, contribute to humanitarian organizations working in Haiti, including the American Red Cross and UNICEF.

Contact Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.