special immigrant juvenile status explained:...

SpecialImmigrantJuvenileStatusExplained:ObtainingFamilyCourtOrdersforUnder21YearOldFamilyandSexualViolence

Survivors

July29,2015WorkshopI,SessionBNewOrleans,LA

1NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw

Introductions• LeslyeOrloff

• Director,NationalImmigrantWomen’sAdvocacyProject

• CommissionerLorettaYoung• NewCastleCountyFamilyCourt,Wilmington,

Delaware

• JudgeMaryWeir• JacksonCountyCourt,KansasCity,Missouri


LearningObjectives:Bytheendofthisworkshopyouwillbeableto:

• ScreenvictimsforSpecialImmigrantJuvenileStatus(SIJS)eligibilityandthedifferentkindsofqualifyingabuse

• KnowthedifferencesbetweenOVWandLegalServicesCorporation(LSC)representationrulesforSIJSyouth

• Addressjurisdiction,venue,service,andapplicablelawissuesinSIJScases

• ObtainSIJSfindingsfromstatefamilycourts


LargeGroupDiscussion

WhatarethequestionsaboutobtainingstatecourtfindingsforSIJSyouththatyouwouldlikeansweredbytheendofthisworkshop?

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw 4

HAVESOUGHTFINDINGSFROMSTATECOURTJUDGESFORSIJSYOUTH?


UnderstandingSIJSStatutoryHistory

• CountersjudicialassumptionsthatSIJSisonlyavailableforyouthinfostercare

• Essentialtoensurethatyouthlivingwithonenon‐abusiveparentcanstillaccessSIJS– Undernewoneorbothparentprovisions


SIJS:StatutoryAuthority§ 101(a)(27)(J),codifiedat8USC§ 1101(a)(27)(J)

• SIJSwascreatedbythe ImmigrationandNationalityActof1990

• CongresscreatedSIJSto:– Aidundocumentedyouthlivinginthefostercaresystem

– Providestabilitythroughlawfulpermanentresidency

• Amended3timestoexpandprotection


SIJSAmendments• 1997:ExpandedSIJStohelpyouthwhowere“abused,abandoned,orneglected”

• 2005:VAWAbarredDHSfromcompellingyouthtocontactandgainconsentfromallegedabusiveparent(s)

• 2008:“OneorBoth”Parents– Clarifiedeligibilityforyouthlivingwithaprotectiveparent,includingbatteredimmigrantparents

– Requiredfindingthatreunificationnotviablewithatleastoneparent


2008SIJSAmendments• Anystatecourtwithjurisdictiontoaddresscareorcustodyofachild– Longtermfostercarenotrequired– Anycourtthat,understatelaw,hasjurisdictiontoaddressaspectsof“careorcustody”ofachild

• Statecourtsadjudicate“abuse,abandonment,orneglect”– Applystatelawwithoutregardtowhereabuseoccurred– DHSnolongerauthorizedtoinquireaboutdetailsoftheabusefromyouthapplicant


Statutevs.Regulation

Requires Child

Eligible for Long Term Foster Care

INA Statute

Implements the

Provisions of the

Statute

FederalRegulation

Changes the

definition of SIJS

TVPRAAmendsStatute

10

SIJSregulationshaveNOT beenupdatedsincethe2008amendments

1990 1993 2008 2015

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw

SpecialImmigrantJuvenileStatusRequirements

• Under 21 (or state law age of majority) & unmarried• Abused, abandoned, or neglected (as defined by state

law) by one or both parents • In the U.S. or abroad• Must be present in the U.S. when filing for SIJS

• Have a family/juvenile court order • Addressing custody, care, dependency of a child• That reunification with at least one parent who abused,

abandoned, or neglected the child is not viable• That it is not in the child’s best interest to be returned to the

child’s home country• Best interest as defined under state law• State court findings required as evidence


AccesstoLegalImmigrationStatus• Providesapathtoeconomicsecurity

– Workauthorization– Driver’slicense

• Removesfearofdeportation,promotesstabilityandfacilitatesaccessto:– Nurturingfamilyrelationships– Stableschoolenvironment– Mentors,rolemodels,andcommunitysupport


AddressingCare,Custody,orDependency

• Courtmusthavejurisdictionunderstatelawtomakejudicialdeterminationsaboutthecustodyandcareofchildren

• Courtorderfinds:– TheminorisadependentofthecourtOR– legallyplacesthechildwithastateorprivateagency,ORaprivateperson


AddressingCare,Custody,orDependency

• Satisfiedinmorethanhalfofallfamilycourtorders

• TheCourtregularlymakedeterminationson:– whowillbethecustodianoftheminor;– whotheminorwilllivewith;or– whethertheminorwillbecommittedtothecustodyofthestateorprivateagencyforcare,treatment,orrehabilitation


SIJSinStateCourts• SIJSopportunitiesappearfrequentlyinfamilycourtbecausetheCourt’sprimaryroleisprotectingandensuringthesafetyofchildrenandfamilies

• MostSIJScasesare15‐17yearoldminors• CourtsandattorneysshouldconsiderSIJSasanoptionanytimeachildisnota– Citizenorlawfulpermanentresident


TimingofSIJSOrders• Shouldbeissuedbeforeaminorturnsageofmajorityunderstatelaw

• Understatelaw,somecourtsmayhavecontinuedjurisdictionoveryouthbetweenageofmajorityand21

• Ifroutinelyconsideredinanycaseinwhichanon‐citizenminorcomesbeforeafamilycourt,fewerchildrenwill“ageout”ofSIJS


WhatMinorswithSIJStatusReceive• Whilecaseispending:

– Protectionfromdeportationandremoval– Considered“lawfullypresent”andeligiblefor– healthcareexchanges(nosubsidies),educationbenefits

– Programsandservicesnecessarytoprotectlifeandsafety


WhatMinorsGrantedSIJStatusReceive

• Atapproval:– LawfulPermanentResidency(separate,butusuallyconcurrentfiling)

– Legalworkauthorization– Bringsaccesstostateissueddriver’slicensesandidentificationcards

– Eligibleforcitizenshipafter5years– Postsecondaryeducationalgrantsandloans;publicandassistedhousing

– Foodstamps(onlyuntiltheimmigrantchildturnsage19)SIJSrecipientmayNEVERfilefamilypetitionforeitheroftherecipient’snaturalparents


LARGE GROUP DISCUSSION

Scenario#1:Lita


SIJSEligibility:AttorneysandAdvocates

• Screeningshouldbeconductedoften• AbusemayhaveoccurredbeforethejuvenileenteredtheUnitedStatesORafter• Possibleincreasedriskforvictimizationforimmigrantjuvenilesreunifiedwithfamilyand/orstepparents


ListalltypesofstatecourtcasesinwhichachildvictimcanseekspecialfindingsforSIJS?

SmallGroupDiscussion


TypesofProceedingstoRequestSpecialFindingsforImmigrantYouth

22

• Childabuse/neglect• Dependency• Childreninneedofsupervision• Adoption• Terminationofparentalrights• Guardianship• Paternity• Childsupport• Custody/visitation/modification• Protectionorders• Divorce• Legalseparation• Delinquency• Motionsforadeclaratoryjudgment

Procedural Issues: May require consolidation of cases to attain ability to make needed findings

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw

DeclaratoryJudgments• Adeclaratoryjudgmentcanbeausefultoolforobtainingnecessarystatecourtfindings

• 4thingsyoumustconsiderbasedonyourstate’slawandpolicies:– Availabilityofadeclaratoryjudgmentstatute– Isthereliefsoughtavalidstatecourtfunction?– Isthechildinfederalorstatecustody?– Willadeclaratoryjudgmentfurtherthechild’sbenefitseligibilityforpublicbenefitsinthestate?


StatesWithDeclaratoryJudgmentStatutesThatCanbeUsedinSIJSCases


LARGE GROUP DISCUSSION

Scenario#2:Susan


ChallengesandMisconceptionsAboutthe“Oneor BothParent”Requirement


OneParentSIJSCases• “Reunificationwithoneorbothparentsisnotviableduetoabuse,neglect,orabandonment,orothersimilarbasisinstatelaw”

• SIJSeligiblechildrenmaybelivingwith:– Fosterfamily– Appointedguardian– Non‐abusiveparent

• Intendedtoprotect– Parentswhoarealsosurvivorsofdomesticviolence– Thechild’srelationshipwithnon‐offendingparent


Scenarios• Participantsworkinsmallgroupsondifferentscenarios– Table1=Scenario#3:Lili– Table2=Scenario#4:Etta– Table3=Scenario#5:CC– Table4=Scenario#6:Karen

• Reportbackanddiscussscenarioquestions,SIJSeligibilityjurisdiction,service,andbestinterest


FactorsConsideredinDeciding:BestInterestoftheChildtoRemainintheU.S.?

• BestinterestincludescomparisonoffactorsintheU.S.andchild’shomecountry

• Usefultoprovideevidenceofcountryconditions• Bestinterestsdefinedbystatelawincluding:

• Riskofdangertothechild• Familysupportsystem• Emotionalwellbeing• Educationalresources• Statelawsthatprecludeordiscourageplacementwithabusiveparent


JurisdictionUndertheUCCJEA• Homestatejurisdiction

– 6monthsinthestate– Foreigncountrycountsasa“homestate”

• Temporaryemergencyjurisdiction– Mayvarybystate– Generallymayassertwhenthejuvenileispresentinthestateandisabandonedorabused

– Inmanystates,temporaryemergencyjurisdictioncanevolveintofulljurisdiction


EnsuretheStateCourtOrderSatisfiesUSCISRequirementsBy:

• Clearlyarticulatingstatelawbasisforjurisdictionovertheminorinthecasebeforethecourt

• Issuingrulingscontainingdetailsofthecourt’sfactualfindingsregarding:– Abuse,abandonment,and/orneglect– Bestinterests– Includestatecaselawcitations


EnsuretheStateCourtOrderSatisfiesUSCISRequirementsBy:

• Articulatingfactuallyhowtheorderfurthersthecourt’sroleunderstatelawof:– Protectingandensuringthesafetyofminors– Furtheringchildren’sbestinterests– Issuingordersregardingthecustody,placement,andcareofminors


InadmissibilityLawsThatAreApplicabletoSIJSCases


StandardInadmissibilityGroundsThatDoNOTApplytoSIJSapplicants

• Unlawfulpresence• Immigrantspresentwithoutadmissionorparole• Misrepresentation,includingfalseclaimtoU.S.citizenship

• Stowaways• Violationsoflaborcertificationlaws• Immigrantsnotinpossessionofavalidunexpiredimmigrantvisa,reentrypermit,bordercrossingidentificationcard,orothervalidentrydocument


WaivableOffenses

• Prostitutionandcommercializedvice• Failuretoattendremovalproceedings• Immigrantsunlawfullypresentafterpreviousimmigrationviolations

• Certainimmigrantsinvolvedinseriouscriminalactivitywhohaveassertedimmunityfromprosecution


Non‐WaivableOffensesCanResultinDenialofLawfulPermanentResidencytoSIJSChildren

• Theftandshopliftingconvictions• Findingsandadmissionsregardingdrugs(exceptlessthan30gramsofmarijuana)

• Domesticviolence• Childabuseorexploitation• Multiplecriminalconvictions• Controlledsubstancetraffickers• Espionage,terroristactivities,genocide,torture,orextrajudicialkilling


TechnicalAssistanceandMaterials

• PowerPointpresentationsandmaterialsforthisconferenceatwww.niwap.org/go/NOLA2015

• NIWAPTechnicalAssistance:– Call(202)274‐4457– E‐[email protected]

• WebLibrary:www.niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu


Questions


Evaluations


Thankyou!

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,American

UniversityWashingtonCollege of Law

40

THIS PROJECT WAS SUPPORTED BY GRANT NO. 2013-TA-AX-K009 AWARDED BY THE OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE OPINIONS, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION/PROGRAM/EXHIBITION ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR(S) AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.

special immigrant juvenile status explained:...

Documents