65 Ukrainian Orphans Arrive At Washington Dulles Airport

DULLES, VA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Washington Dulles International Airport had a pleasant break Saturday from their daily task of processing travelers and examining baggage for illegal items.

CBP officers expedited the arrival 65 orphans visiting the U.S. as part of the Open Hearts and Homes for Children’s (OHHC) Orphan Hosting Program. The children, who are 7 to 16 years of age, are from the Ukraine and Latvia. OHHC matched them up with U.S. families or fosters for a brief visit to America. Although OHHC is not an adoption program, sometimes the host family will go through the process of adopting a child they've met through the program.

On June 14, OHHC reached out to CBP's Area Port of Washington in order to seek access to the inspection station at Dulles so they could welcome the children as they arrived from the Ukraine. CBP’s Liaison Team helped the children and their five chaperones navigate the international arrival process. In addition, one CBP officer who was of Ukrainian ancestry, was able to communicate with the children in their own language.

“Many of our Customs and Border Protection officers are parents of children around the same age as these children, and we can appreciate how intimidating it could be to travel to a foreign country. We were happy to accommodate OHHC and to be the orphans’ first welcoming face in the United States,” said Keith Fleming, acting director of field operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office.