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Federal Policy

Special Provisions for Immigrant Youth: A Model State Statute

By | Federal Policy, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Relief, Law & Policy, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)

Special Provisions for Immigrant Youth: A Model State Statute

American Friends Service Committee, Fordham Law School, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, and Rutgers University School of Law (February 2015)

This resource proposes model statutory language for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) legislation, with the aim of promoting both uniformity across jurisdictions and the right of all SIJS-eligible immigrant children to access their state court systems.

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In-Country Refugee/Parole Processing for Minors in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala (Central American Minors – CAM)

By | Federal Policy, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Relief, Law & Policy, Unaccompanied Minors

In-Country Refugee/Parole Processing for Minors in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala (Central American Minors – CAM)

Office of Refugee Resettlement (January 30, 2015)

Provides information about the Central American Minors Refugee/Parole Program which is implemented by the Department of State.

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A Guide to the Immigration Accountability Executive Action

By | Federal Policy, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Enforcement, Immigration Relief, Law & Policy

A Guide to the Immigration Accountability Executive Action

American Immigration Council (November 30, 2014)

This guide provides an analysis of President Obama’s plan for immigration reform, including an overview of the Deferred Action for Parents of American and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program and information on the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

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States and Status: A Study of Geographical Disparities for Immigrant Youth

By | Federal Policy, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Enforcement, Immigration Relief, Law & Policy, Legal/Law, Research, Resources, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), State Policies, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

States and Status: A Study of Geographical Disparities for Immigrant Youth

Columbia Human Rights Law Review, 46(266) (November 2014)

Written by Laila Hlass, this article discusses patterns in the number of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status applicants across states and over time.

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The ABCs of Representing Unaccompanied Children in Removal Proceedings

By | Deportation, Family Separation, Federal Policy, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Relief, Law & Policy, Legal Professionals, Legal/Law, Practice, Resources, Social Work, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), Unaccompanied Minors

The ABCs of Representing Unaccompanied Children in Removal Proceedings

American Bar Association Commission on Immigration (October 2014)

These materials, from an October 2014 training, cover information on a range of topics related to representing unaccompanied immigrant children, including best practices for working with unaccompanied children, information on immigration law and removal proceedings, ethical considerations in representing unaccompanied minors, Special Immigration Juvenile Status, U and T Visas, and asylum law and initial jurisdiction issues.

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Applying the ICE Parental Interests Directive to Child Welfare Cases

By | Deportation, Detention, Family Separation, Federal Policy, ICE, Immigration Enforcement, Kinship Care, Law & Policy, Legal Professionals, Legal/Law, Parental Interests Directive, Practice, Resources, Social Work, Social Workers

Applying the ICE Parental Interests Directive to Child Welfare Cases

Immigrant Legal Resource Center (August 26, 2014)

This resource summarizes the key provisions of the Directive and provides tips to those working within the dependency system on how to best ensure an immigrant parent can meaningfully participate in the dependency proceedings.

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Finding a Path for Children in United States Immigration Law

By | Child Well-Being, Deportation, Federal Policy, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Relief, Law & Policy, Legal/Law

Finding a Path for Children in United States Immigration Law

Ryan Russell, Law School Student Scholarship, Paper 561 (2014)

The author advocates for incorporating the best interest of the child standard into deportation proceedings initiated against an undocumented immigrant parent.

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What Is the Right Policy Toward Unaccompanied Children at U.S. Borders?

By | Federal Policy, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Relief, Law & Policy, Unaccompanied Minors

What Is the Right Policy Toward Unaccompanied Children at U.S. Borders?

Migration Policy Institute (June 2014)

President Obama assigned responsibility for meeting the needs of the children taken into federal custody to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), describing the inflow as an “urgent humanitarian issue.” Governmental capacity to care for the caseload is overwhelmed as fast as it can be installed. Everyone knows that the current trend is unsustainable: a broader policy response must quickly follow on the humanitarian one.

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Fact Sheet: Parental Interests Directive

By | Deportation, Detention, Family Separation, Federal Policy, ICE, Immigration Enforcement, Law & Policy, Parental Interests Directive

Fact Sheet: Parental Interests Directive

First Focus (September 3, 2013)

On August 23, 2013, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a directive on Facilitating Parental Interests in the Course of Immigration Enforcement Activities, or the Parental Interest Directive. The Directive is a response to the large and growing number of U.S. citizen children with immigrant parents or guardians who have been detained or deported, and is meant to ensure that detained and removed parents and guardians can maintain a relationship with their children and make decisions in their best interest. Written by Wendy Cervantes, Vice President, Immigration and Child Rights Policy, First Focus.

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