White Indiana Family Fights to Save Adopted Black Son From Deportation
An Indiana family is hoping to get citizenship for their adopted child with special needs before it’s too late. Rebekah Hubley and her husband adopted Jonas, a nonverbal, blind, autistic child who has cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder, from Haiti in 2010, according to WSFA 12 Alabama. Since then, they have raised him in the home with their three biological children. Their oldest is blind as well.
Hubley immediately went to work securing a medical visa so Jonas could receive the care in the states he would not have access to in Haiti. After getting the visa approved in 2008, she continued to work towards finalizing the adoption while Jonas was with her family.
Read more
Hubley says once her fight is over, she and Jonas will continue to advocate for other kids facing similar challenges.
“It might not matter to immigration, but his life matters,” Hubley said. “He is a human being, and his life matters. I will prove to you his life matters. And, not if but when, he becomes a citizen of the United States, we will go before Congress and lobby for other kids who I am sure are just like Jonas who are stuck in this situation.”
More from The Root
Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.