US senators help Haitian orphans

Three US senators have unveiled a bill to clear away hurdles to citizenship for 1,000 Haitian orphans whose adoptions by US parents were rushed because of the January earthquake.



US and Haitian authorities cleared the children to join the adoptive parents after the disaster.



However, without the complete paperwork necessary to finalise their adoptions, they now have to seek what would normally be automatic citizenship upon entry to the US.



Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrant says the devastation in Port-au-Prince has also disrupted the adoption process and it could be years before the children could have any legal status.



Under new legislation, parents who are US nationals would be allowed to apply immediately for their adopted children to become legal permanent residents and qualify for citizenship.



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