Are House Democrats holding Haitian orphans hostage over their immigration agenda? From Fox: 

Haiti Adoption Complicates DREAM Act Push

Meanwhile, the administration will be defending the president’s call to include the DREAM Act in the lame-duck session, presumably tacked on to some piece of emergency legislation. The president came out in support of the bill, which would give amnesty to illegal immigrants who go to college or serve in the armed forces, after meeting with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. With scant hope for a border fix or a “pathway to citizenship” in the next two years and his own reelection bid looming, Obama needs to show his support for some kind of amnesty program.

Republicans, though, are expected to raise a ruckus over the Help Haiti Act, a measure to ease adoptions from the devastated nation. Democrats yanked the bill from the calendar and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) has sent a letter expressing concern about rumors that the popular measure will be used to aid the passage of the DREAM Act. One could be amended to the other or both could be added to another bill for a sweet and sour effect.

From Fortenberry’s letter to the Democratic leadership: “My office has heard reports that this critical legislative fix, which would clear legal obstacles to U.S. citizenship for as many as 1200 Haitian orphans who were in the process of being adopted before the January 12 earthquake, may be used as a vehicle for a controversial immigration measure. Please know that while these vulnerable orphans’ status remains in limbo, they have fewer legal protections, may not be eligible for critical resources, and risk being forced to return to Haiti.”

A letter from Nebraska Republican Congressman Jeff Fortenberry: 

Dear Colleagues:

I write to express my concern with circumstances preventing H.R. 5283, the Help HAITI Act, from coming to the Floor for a vote.  I returned to Washington on Monday, anticipating the House to act to give vulnerable Haitian orphans and their adoptive American families, who have endured so much heartbreak and tragedy, the comfort of knowing they are here to stay.  My bipartisan measure, the Help HAITI Act, was originally passed by the House on July 20, 2010, then was amended and passed by the Senate on August 4, 2010.  I, along with numerous colleagues and members of the international adoption community, was pleased to see its inclusion on Monday’s suspensions list. 

I was then surprised when it was pulled from legislative business on Monday, and with the consequent secrecy about its current status.  My office has heard reports that this critical legislative fix, which would clear legal obstacles to U.S. citizenship for as many as 1200 Haitian orphans who were in the process of being adopted before the January 12 earthquake, may be used as a vehicle for a controversial immigration measure.   Please know that while these vulnerable orphans’ status remains in limbo, they have fewer legal protections, may not be eligible for critical resources, and risk being forced to return to Haiti.  We can act today, with broad bipartisan support, to solve this problem.  After these families have opened their hearts and homes to some of the world’s most vulnerable children, this security is the least we can give them.  The House of Representatives should affirm this by passing the Help HAITI Act, free of unrelated, controversial measures. 

I look forward to seeing the existing Help HAITI Act return to the Floor for a vote this week. 

Sincerely,

Jeff Fortenberry

Member of Congress