HIAS Celebrates U.S. Government’s Family Reunification Program for Haitians

Last week the U.S. government announced that it will soon allow Haitian family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to join their families in the United States while they wait for their green cards.  

Melanie Nezer, Vice President for Policy and Advocacy at HIAS, the global Jewish nonprofit that protects refugees, issued the following statement:

“For decades, HIAS has advocated for the fair treatment of Haitian migrants and asylum seekers, who have often faced stricter rules than other migrants. Since the massive devastation caused by the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, HIAS has been urging the U.S. government to allow Haitians on the years-long waiting list for green cards to come to the U.S. to wait for their visas in safety with their American family members.  While this took nearly five years, we are pleased that the Department of Homeland Security will soon begin to implement a Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program. The right to family unity has long been a cornerstone of U.S. refugee and immigration policy, and we praise the U.S. government for providing Haitian families with hope and a chance to start their lives in the United States. This is the right thing to do.”