Orphaned Haitian Girl, 2, Detained At Airport

Orphaned Haitian Girl, 2, Detained At Airport

Federal Agents Stop Child From Entering Into U.S.

POSTED: 10:22 am EST January 19, 2010

UPDATED: 10:57 am EST January 19, 2010

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MELBOURNE, Fla. --

A 2-year-old Haitian girl who is trying to get to a loving home in Central Florida is stuck in limbo.

The focus of volunteer Dr. Stephen Badolato is finding a new place to live for Mishna Prezille.

"It's crazy, these kids need help now," Badolato said.

"Florida Today" reporter John Torres was on the flight that brought Mishna from Haiti.

Her mother is presumed dead, her orphanage is unsafe and there was little hope for her there, but when the flight arrived in Palm Beach, federal agents detained and interrogated everyone, first declaring the child's visa was faulty and then suspecting child smuggling.

Neither was the case, but the bureaucracy won't release her and won't give a reason why.

"They treated us like human traffickers," Torres said.

Badolato has arranged for her to be adopted and to get medical care for her deformed foot, but his hands are tied.

"We've got all kinds of people with open arms, but they can't help her," Badolato said.

The doctor is on his way to Miami where the child is held to try to talk authorities into letting her go.

He has power of attorney and adoption papers from the orphanage, but so far, intervention by a congressman and state senator has not worked. Every bureaucrat they talk to said they can't take the responsibility to release her.