What is Humanitarian Parole?
“Humanitarian parole” is a process that enables someone who is otherwise inadmissible to enter the United States for a temporary period due to a compelling emergency.
Read more about it here.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may grant parole temporarily to:
- Anyone applying for admission into the United States based on urgent humanitarian reasons or if there is a significant public benefit;
- For a period of time that corresponds with the length of emergency or humanitarian situation.
On January 19, 2010, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that the US would allow certain orphans in Haiti to enter the United States to be united with adoptive parents through the “Humanitarian Parole” process. In addition, she said that parole would be considered for other candidates based on compelling need.
However, because the process for seeking humanitarian parole is complex, it has historically been extremely underutilized. By taking a hands-on approach, we believe that the process provides a good vehicle for helping Haitians impacted by the earthquake.
We are teams of legal and medical professionals who worked with survivors of wars and natural disasters and/or are experts on US immigration and human rights law.
Read more about recent team leaders here
We make periodic trips to Haiti, and working with local NGOs and interpreters, we identify people who may be eligible for Humanitarian Parole. We then complete and file these applications with the US government.
By setting up this pilot program, we have created a model for Humanitarian Parole that we invite others to duplicate in Haiti.
We are also documenting our experiences and the stories to our survivors to help create awareness and activism.
This pilot program was initiated by Reed Smith Human Rights Team leader Jayne Fleming in March 2010. Jayne collaborated with experts on Haiti, including Walter Riley of the Haitian Emergency Relief Fund, Brian Concannon of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti and Mario Joseph of the Bureau of Advocates International in Port au Prince.
Why legal and medical professionals?
The process for Humanitarian Parole is complex, and applications require meticulous documentation. By combining the skills of medical and psychiatric doctors with those of human rights attorneys who have experience working with survivors, we strive to create the best possible opportunity for our applicants to gain legal entry into the US.
Funding for Humanitarian Parole delegations comes from a variety of sources, including law firms, private donations and personal funds of delegation members.
How long does the humanitarian parole process take?
According to the USCIS website, humanitarian parole applications take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to process once they are filed.
We are also preparing a report on the government’s response to our applications.
What have you encountered so far?
That Haiti is experiencing a second wave of catastrophe as survivors of the earthquake struggle to find food, water and shelter. Every individual we interviewed told us their basic subsistence needs were not being met. No one is eating more than one meal a day. People are sleeping in the streets without tents or shelter. Those with critical medical needs cannot get care. Care for chronic medical conditions is non-existent. Violence in the streets and the camps is pervasive. The rule of law has entirely broken down. .
Read more about the project, our visits and some of the issues we have encountered in the News section.
Click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer, making a donation, and/or helping get the word out.