Indiana Mother Fights for Citizenship for Adopted Son
An Indiana mother is facing a difficult and lengthy process to secure citizenship for her son, a 17-year-old autistic and blind child she adopted from Haiti in 2010. Rebekah Hubley shared her frustration with CBS News affiliate WANE, explaining that her most recent attempt to obtain citizenship for her son was denied by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Hubley stated that she had submitted a "Petition for an Alien Relative" to the agency, but received a letter of denial claiming that she did not provide all the necessary education records. However, Hubley insists that she had indeed included the required information in her submission.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Hubley expressed her belief that the case officers responsible for reviewing her paperwork did not thoroughly examine the documents she provided.
CBS News reached out to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Hubley said in a GoFundMe page raising money for legal expenses that her son is blind, autistic and has cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder. She described him as "medically complex" and requiring "round-the-clock care." He came to the U.S. in 2008 on a medical visa from Haiti, Hubley said, and he was legally adopted in 2010 following the earthquake in Haiti. The devastating earthquake killed hundreds of thousands of people and left 1.5 million homeless. Hubley said the decision to adopt him came because "of the instability in Haiti."
As a result of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services denial, Jonas will have to either be deported or voluntarily return to Haiti. Hubley said the family has 33 days after the denial to comply.
In addition to the GoFundMe, Hubley has posted widely about the situation on social media. She told WANE that she has started a "JusticeforJonas" hashtag on social media in the hopes of garnering more attention. Hubley also told WANE that she reached out to the White House, President Joe Biden, her congressman Rep. Jim Banks, and other legislators.
Banks' office told WANE that they are aware of the case and said that they are "working to help the family however we can." Banks' office said they could not comment further because of privacy laws.
"I'm not just fighting for Jonas this year, I am fighting for all the other Jonas' that are going through this same situation," Hubley told WANE. "The ones that are cognitively understanding what is going on and terrified."
