There’s a man by the name of Jim Allen who today is among the Americans who are currently being imprisoned in Haiti. Those familiar with his situation believe and have convinced me that his imprisonment is a “colossal misunderstanding.”

Jim Allen is a construction worker who owns a small business, a welding company, in Amarillo, Texas. He evidently heard about the group, largely from Idaho, that was going down to Haiti hoping to open a temporary orphanage for Haitian children in the Dominican Republic two days before they were to set off to Haiti. Allen reportedly jumped at the chance to put his skills to use toward all renovations needed.

Apparently the only people in the group Allen knew prior to the trip were his cousin, Paul Thompson, and Thompson’s son. Thompson is a Baptist pastor from Idaho.

Obviously many Haitian children are so very vulnerable — in ways most of us can’t even fathom. Thank goodness for authorities who can be vigilant even admist the chaos and destruction there to protect at least some of these children from wolves masked as sheep, preying on these children for their human-trafficking rings. But Jim Allen is not a human trafficker.

Haitian prisons are considered “inhumane” by Human Rights Watch. Cells can look like this:

Allen, who suffers from hyptertension, has been held now since January 29th. I’m told he has spoken to his wife once during that time. For the first ten days of his incarceration, Allen was not allowed to his own selected legal counsel. Now, however, there is a legal effort on his behalf to bring him home. Former Haitian Minister of Justice Gary Lissade interviewed him and is convinced that there is no reason Jim Allen should be incarcerated, that he did not violate any laws.

(Here is a plea on Allen’s behalf to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.)

Controversy is swirling in particular around a man named Jorge Puello who has presented himself as an adviser to the group of imprisoned Americans. Lawyers for Allen here in the States however make clear that Allen is not represented by this man.

I can’t speak to the situation of all of the Americans in the group Allen joined. My impression is that they are well-intentioned but some (or someone) among them were imprudent. But I do know that Jim Allen should clearly be released. Haitian judge Bernard Saint-Vil has recommended as much, agreeing that Allen has not violated any laws. Our State Department should make the case for this and diplomatically insist on it.