U.S. Immigration for Thousands of Haitians Expedited

Starting in early 2015, immigrants from Haiti will be permitted to enter the U.S. without a permanent visa under a new immigration program from the Obama administration, reports The Washington Times.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service announced the Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program on Friday, October 17, 2014. The announcement states that the program is being implemented to “expedite family reunification for certain eligible Haitian family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents of the U.S.”

Senator Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judicial Committee, called the program “irresponsible,” according to The Washington Times, and said it was ““likely just the beginning of the president’s unilateral and executive actions on immigration.”

The Associated Press reported that currently an estimated 100,000 Haitians have been approved to receive green cards, via the standard U.S. visa application process, and are awaiting visas. The HFRP program will extend to those Haitians who would be issued their immigrant visa within the next two years.

According to the Miami Herald, Haitian and immigration advocates commended the program, but said they would continue to fight for those still in the visa backlog, which extends up to 12 years.

Steve Forester, a Haitian immigration activist, said it was a “good first step in the right direction,” and that this program would save lives, not only by reuniting families, but also through the remittances sent to Haiti from those in the U.S.

Keep reading:
The Washington Times – Obama admin. to allow thousands of Haitians into U.S. without visas
Miami Herald – Obama to expedite U.S. entry for thousands of Haitians

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