‘You won’t take my son’: Mom fights to keep adopted son from being deported

Source: WABI-TV

In Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Hubley family is facing a distressing situation as they fight to prevent the deportation of their adopted son, Jonas Wendel Brice Hubley. Jonas, 17, who is nonverbal, blind, autistic, and has cerebral palsy, was adopted from Haiti. The family received a letter from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stating that Jonas, upon turning 18, would be deported back to Haiti in January 2024. This news came despite Rebekah Hubley’s long and challenging journey to adopt Jonas and bring him to the U.S. for medical care and a better life.

Rebekah’s desire to adopt started when her family volunteered in Haiti. The Hubleys, who already had three biological children, felt it was fate when they saw Jonas’ profile, a child with visual impairment. They began the adoption process in 2007. Due to lack of diagnostic testing for visual impairment in Haiti at that time, they collected Jonas’ Haitian documents and arranged medical appointments in Fort Wayne, leading to his medical visa’s approval in 2008.

After bringing Jonas to the U.S., the family continued working on his adoption. Everything was going well until the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, which destroyed Jonas’ adoption paperwork and halted the process. Despite this setback, the Hubleys officially adopted Jonas in the U.S. at the Allen County Courthouse later that year.

The family faced more challenges over the years, including Jonas’ severe seizure in 2013, which further complicated his medical and developmental condition. Despite these difficulties, Rebekah continued to file paperwork with the government to secure Jonas’ U.S. citizenship and social security number, working with various attorneys and government representatives.

However, in December 2023, the USCIS denied Jonas’ Petition for Alien Relative, citing insufficient evidence of joint residency. This decision, which cannot be appealed, has left the family in a state of shock and urgency to find a solution. Rebekah Hubley, determined to keep her son in the U.S., has taken to social media and received support from the community, including assistance from an immigration attorney funded by another family.

With the backing of Indiana lawmakers and public support, Rebekah is now racing against time to prevent Jonas’ deportation to Haiti, a country currently under a “Do Not Travel” advisory by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs. This case highlights the complexities of U.S. immigration laws and the plight of families with vulnerable members caught in challenging circumstances.