Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) – Immigration Relief for Abused, Abandoned, or Neglected Children

Abstract: In 2016, unaccompanied children from all over the world, including close to 25,000 from Central America, sought refuge in the United States. Fleeing gang violence, civil unrest, and corrupt governments in their home countries, most of these children risk their lives in their journey to reach the United States. Because of their vulnerability, Congress enacted special legal mechanisms to facilitate a pathway to legal status. Our presentation will discuss the process of obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), the policy reasons surrounding this form of relief, and our experiences working with applicants in the Refugee and Human Rights Clinic.https://digitalcommons.mainelaw.maine.edu/student-impact-summit/1018/thumbnail.jp