Miami advocates are pushing to relocate Haitian children to the U.S.

[CitaDeL]

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-b...-81767767.html

Operation Pierre Pan," as its being called, is an effort to relocate the thousands of children likely orphaned by the natural disaster in Port-au-Prince. Many of the children could already have relatives in Miami and around the U.S.

A similar effort occurred decades ago when "Operation Pedro Pan" was launched to help the children of Cuba during the political upheaval in that island neighbor. Some 14,000 children were relocated to the United States, many of them settling in South Florida.

While advocates mobilize for a push to help find the children new families if not reunite them with stateside relatives, there are several hurdles that need to be overcome.

The movement would need the approval of the U.S. government to at the very least grant the orphans temporary status in the country.

Still, agencies in Miami-Dade and Broward are gearing up for the possible influx of children in need of a home, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

We've already begun to make preparations and are willing to do our part," said Mark Riordan, Broward County spokesman for the state's Department of Children and Families.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Miami
First Published: Jan 15, 2010 4:23 PM EST

Temporary status becomes permanent with the passage of time. I believe the tragedy in Haiti is only a convenient backdrop to excuse the suspension of any real immigration control. The appeal is completely emotional... after all they are talking about doing it for the children....