January 7, 2026: The White House has issued a proclamation titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” suspending certain U.S. immigrant visas, effective January 1, 2026. This action carries immediate consequences for children and families involved in intercountry adoption.
On behalf of the waiting children in Haiti and the families pursuing them, we urge policymakers to reinstate exemptions for IH-3/IH-4 and IR-3/IR-4 visas in the updated presidential proclamation restricting and limiting visa issuance.
Haiti is among the 39 countries included in the most recent ban. Under the current policy, children adopted internationally by U.S. families are unable to receive visas, leaving them separated from their legally adoptive parents and delaying their placement into safe, permanent homes.
Lifeline Children’s Services urges supporters to stand with waiting children and families by signing the petition calling for these critical adoption visa exemptions.
For media inquiries or to interview Karla Thrasher, Vice President of International Ministries, please email pr@lifelinechild.org.
