Esai Reed, a 6-year-old boy from Haiti, has been evacuated from orphanages three times due to gang violence. His adoptive mother, Michelle Reed, along with 55 other families, are asking the U.S. government for humanitarian parole to bring their adopted children to safety. Despite initial promises, the U.S. government has been unable to find a solution to evacuate children without final adoption decrees. This has left families in a difficult situation, as completing the adoption process in Haiti poses risks due to gang violence.
The families are concerned about the safety of the children, especially as Haitian judges are on strike and government offices are operating at limited capacity due to violence. Lawmakers, including U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, Marco Rubio, and Rick Scott, have supported the families in their efforts to obtain humanitarian parole for the children.
The ongoing gang violence in Haiti has resulted in widespread homelessness and insecurity, particularly in the capital of Port-au-Prince. The U.N. has reported a high number of killings, kidnappings, and other crimes in the country. As the U.S. considers sending peacekeeping forces to Haiti, families continue to advocate for the safety and well-being of their adopted children.
The families are urging the U.S. government to expedite the adoption process and ensure the safe evacuation of the children to the U.S. They are calling for a compassionate response to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti to protect the vulnerable children caught amidst the violence and instability.
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