For individuals who were brought in the United States by their parents without legal protection, every day can be stressful, especially with the aggressiveness of ICE nowadays. But even though the fear of deportation can be overwhelming at times, it’s important to realize that there are still effective protections out there that may shield you or a loved one from an otherwise inconceivable outcome. One of them is seeking special immigrant juvenile status.
What is special immigrant juvenile status?
Special immigrant juvenile status serves to protect children who were brought into the country without authorization but who have since been subjected to abandonment, abuse or neglect. To qualify for this protection, you must:
- Be under the age of 21
- Be unmarried
- Have a juvenile court order showing that you’re the victim of abandonment, abuse or neglect and that return to your parent and your home country is not in your best interests
- Secure a finding in the juvenile court that you are dependent on that court or that you’re in the custody of state agency, which is usually a child welfare agency
- Demonstrate that you’ve secured the juvenile court order to be protected from abandonment, abuse or neglect rather than to solely seek immigration protection
There may be other requirements that must be met in your case, so be sure to discuss your unique circumstances with your immigration attorney.
Special immigrant juvenile status provides real protection
If you’re granted special immigrant juvenile status, then you’ll be able to seek lawful permanent resident status and acquire a work permit. This can put you on-track to secure citizenship. In other words, acquiring special immigrant juvenile status can be huge. That’s why if you think you or a loved one may qualify for this status, then now is the time to act before it’s too late.
