Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Explained:...
Transcript of 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
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LearningObjectives:Bytheendofthisworkshopyouwillbeableto:
• ScreenvictimsforSpecialImmigrantJuvenileStatus(SIJS)eligibilityandthedifferentkindsofqualifyingabuse
• KnowthedifferencesbetweenOVWandLegalServicesCorporation(LSC)representationrulesforSIJSyouth
• Addressjurisdiction,venue,service,andapplicablelawissuesinSIJScases
• ObtainSIJSfindingsfromstatefamilycourts
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LargeGroupDiscussion
WhatarethequestionsaboutobtainingstatecourtfindingsforSIJSyouththatyouwouldlikeansweredbytheendofthisworkshop?
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HAVESOUGHTFINDINGSFROMSTATECOURTJUDGESFORSIJSYOUTH?
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UnderstandingSIJSStatutoryHistory
• CountersjudicialassumptionsthatSIJSisonlyavailableforyouthinfostercare
• Essentialtoensurethatyouthlivingwithonenon‐abusiveparentcanstillaccessSIJS– Undernewoneorbothparentprovisions
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SIJS:StatutoryAuthority§ 101(a)(27)(J),codifiedat8USC§ 1101(a)(27)(J)
• SIJSwascreatedbythe ImmigrationandNationalityActof1990
• CongresscreatedSIJSto:– Aidundocumentedyouthlivinginthefostercaresystem
– Providestabilitythroughlawfulpermanentresidency
• Amended3timestoexpandprotection
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SIJSAmendments• 1997:ExpandedSIJStohelpyouthwhowere“abused,abandoned,orneglected”
• 2005:VAWAbarredDHSfromcompellingyouthtocontactandgainconsentfromallegedabusiveparent(s)
• 2008:“OneorBoth”Parents– Clarifiedeligibilityforyouthlivingwithaprotectiveparent,includingbatteredimmigrantparents
– Requiredfindingthatreunificationnotviablewithatleastoneparent
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2008SIJSAmendments• Anystatecourtwithjurisdictiontoaddresscareorcustodyofachild– Longtermfostercarenotrequired– Anycourtthat,understatelaw,hasjurisdictiontoaddressaspectsof“careorcustody”ofachild
• Statecourtsadjudicate“abuse,abandonment,orneglect”– Applystatelawwithoutregardtowhereabuseoccurred– DHSnolongerauthorizedtoinquireaboutdetailsoftheabusefromyouthapplicant
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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
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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
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AccesstoLegalImmigrationStatus• Providesapathtoeconomicsecurity
– Workauthorization– Driver’slicense
• Removesfearofdeportation,promotesstabilityandfacilitatesaccessto:– Nurturingfamilyrelationships– Stableschoolenvironment– Mentors,rolemodels,andcommunitysupport
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AddressingCare,Custody,orDependency
• Courtmusthavejurisdictionunderstatelawtomakejudicialdeterminationsaboutthecustodyandcareofchildren
• Courtorderfinds:– TheminorisadependentofthecourtOR– legallyplacesthechildwithastateorprivateagency,ORaprivateperson
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AddressingCare,Custody,orDependency
• Satisfiedinmorethanhalfofallfamilycourtorders
• TheCourtregularlymakedeterminationson:– whowillbethecustodianoftheminor;– whotheminorwilllivewith;or– whethertheminorwillbecommittedtothecustodyofthestateorprivateagencyforcare,treatment,orrehabilitation
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SIJSinStateCourts• SIJSopportunitiesappearfrequentlyinfamilycourtbecausetheCourt’sprimaryroleisprotectingandensuringthesafetyofchildrenandfamilies
• MostSIJScasesare15‐17yearoldminors• CourtsandattorneysshouldconsiderSIJSasanoptionanytimeachildisnota– Citizenorlawfulpermanentresident
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TimingofSIJSOrders• Shouldbeissuedbeforeaminorturnsageofmajorityunderstatelaw
• Understatelaw,somecourtsmayhavecontinuedjurisdictionoveryouthbetweenageofmajorityand21
• Ifroutinelyconsideredinanycaseinwhichanon‐citizenminorcomesbeforeafamilycourt,fewerchildrenwill“ageout”ofSIJS
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WhatMinorswithSIJStatusReceive• Whilecaseispending:
– Protectionfromdeportationandremoval– Considered“lawfullypresent”andeligiblefor– healthcareexchanges(nosubsidies),educationbenefits
– Programsandservicesnecessarytoprotectlifeandsafety
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WhatMinorsGrantedSIJStatusReceive
• Atapproval:– LawfulPermanentResidency(separate,butusuallyconcurrentfiling)
– Legalworkauthorization– Bringsaccesstostateissueddriver’slicensesandidentificationcards
– Eligibleforcitizenshipafter5years– Postsecondaryeducationalgrantsandloans;publicandassistedhousing
– Foodstamps(onlyuntiltheimmigrantchildturnsage19)SIJSrecipientmayNEVERfilefamilypetitionforeitheroftherecipient’snaturalparents
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LARGE GROUP DISCUSSION
Scenario#1:Lita
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SIJSEligibility:AttorneysandAdvocates
• Screeningshouldbeconductedoften• AbusemayhaveoccurredbeforethejuvenileenteredtheUnitedStatesORafter• Possibleincreasedriskforvictimizationforimmigrantjuvenilesreunifiedwithfamilyand/orstepparents
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ListalltypesofstatecourtcasesinwhichachildvictimcanseekspecialfindingsforSIJS?
SmallGroupDiscussion
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TypesofProceedingstoRequestSpecialFindingsforImmigrantYouth
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• 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
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DeclaratoryJudgments• Adeclaratoryjudgmentcanbeausefultoolforobtainingnecessarystatecourtfindings
• 4thingsyoumustconsiderbasedonyourstate’slawandpolicies:– Availabilityofadeclaratoryjudgmentstatute– Isthereliefsoughtavalidstatecourtfunction?– Isthechildinfederalorstatecustody?– Willadeclaratoryjudgmentfurtherthechild’sbenefitseligibilityforpublicbenefitsinthestate?
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StatesWithDeclaratoryJudgmentStatutesThatCanbeUsedinSIJSCases
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LARGE GROUP DISCUSSION
Scenario#2:Susan
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ChallengesandMisconceptionsAboutthe“Oneor BothParent”Requirement
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OneParentSIJSCases• “Reunificationwithoneorbothparentsisnotviableduetoabuse,neglect,orabandonment,orothersimilarbasisinstatelaw”
• SIJSeligiblechildrenmaybelivingwith:– Fosterfamily– Appointedguardian– Non‐abusiveparent
• Intendedtoprotect– Parentswhoarealsosurvivorsofdomesticviolence– Thechild’srelationshipwithnon‐offendingparent
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Scenarios• Participantsworkinsmallgroupsondifferentscenarios– Table1=Scenario#3:Lili– Table2=Scenario#4:Etta– Table3=Scenario#5:CC– Table4=Scenario#6:Karen
• Reportbackanddiscussscenarioquestions,SIJSeligibilityjurisdiction,service,andbestinterest
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FactorsConsideredinDeciding:BestInterestoftheChildtoRemainintheU.S.?
• BestinterestincludescomparisonoffactorsintheU.S.andchild’shomecountry
• Usefultoprovideevidenceofcountryconditions• Bestinterestsdefinedbystatelawincluding:
• Riskofdangertothechild• Familysupportsystem• Emotionalwellbeing• Educationalresources• Statelawsthatprecludeordiscourageplacementwithabusiveparent
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JurisdictionUndertheUCCJEA• Homestatejurisdiction
– 6monthsinthestate– Foreigncountrycountsasa“homestate”
• Temporaryemergencyjurisdiction– Mayvarybystate– Generallymayassertwhenthejuvenileispresentinthestateandisabandonedorabused
– Inmanystates,temporaryemergencyjurisdictioncanevolveintofulljurisdiction
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EnsuretheStateCourtOrderSatisfiesUSCISRequirementsBy:
• Clearlyarticulatingstatelawbasisforjurisdictionovertheminorinthecasebeforethecourt
• Issuingrulingscontainingdetailsofthecourt’sfactualfindingsregarding:– Abuse,abandonment,and/orneglect– Bestinterests– Includestatecaselawcitations
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EnsuretheStateCourtOrderSatisfiesUSCISRequirementsBy:
• Articulatingfactuallyhowtheorderfurthersthecourt’sroleunderstatelawof:– Protectingandensuringthesafetyofminors– Furtheringchildren’sbestinterests– Issuingordersregardingthecustody,placement,andcareofminors
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InadmissibilityLawsThatAreApplicabletoSIJSCases
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StandardInadmissibilityGroundsThatDoNOTApplytoSIJSapplicants
• Unlawfulpresence• Immigrantspresentwithoutadmissionorparole• Misrepresentation,includingfalseclaimtoU.S.citizenship
• Stowaways• Violationsoflaborcertificationlaws• Immigrantsnotinpossessionofavalidunexpiredimmigrantvisa,reentrypermit,bordercrossingidentificationcard,orothervalidentrydocument
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WaivableOffenses
• Prostitutionandcommercializedvice• Failuretoattendremovalproceedings• Immigrantsunlawfullypresentafterpreviousimmigrationviolations
• Certainimmigrantsinvolvedinseriouscriminalactivitywhohaveassertedimmunityfromprosecution
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Non‐WaivableOffensesCanResultinDenialofLawfulPermanentResidencytoSIJSChildren
• Theftandshopliftingconvictions• Findingsandadmissionsregardingdrugs(exceptlessthan30gramsofmarijuana)
• Domesticviolence• Childabuseorexploitation• Multiplecriminalconvictions• Controlledsubstancetraffickers• Espionage,terroristactivities,genocide,torture,orextrajudicialkilling
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TechnicalAssistanceandMaterials
• PowerPointpresentationsandmaterialsforthisconferenceatwww.niwap.org/go/NOLA2015
• NIWAPTechnicalAssistance:– Call(202)274‐4457– E‐[email protected]
• WebLibrary:www.niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu
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Questions
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Evaluations
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Thankyou!
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UniversityWashingtonCollege of Law
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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.