This Practice Advisory answers common questions about the risks of filing affirmative SIJS cases for youth in a variety of scenarios, such as when the youth has a delinquency history, the youth is over the age of 18, or the youth is alleged to be gang-involved.
A collection of one-page fact sheets on immigration options for undocumented immigrant children.
Nearly 210,000 unaccompanied immigrant children were detained at the U.S.-Mexico border between fiscal years (FY) 2014 and 2017, the majority coming from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras…This article provides an overview of the SIJ program and its growth as a pathway to protection for immigrant children. Drawing on a series of interviews with immigrant youth, adult sponsors, attorneys, and judges, it also identifies limitations on access to SIJ.
This toolkit is geared toward foster care caseworkers to ensure that SIJS-eligible children receive the assistance and case monitoring they need during the SIJS application process.
Get the ToolkitThis Learning Center provides resources about U.S. immigration, different types of visas and forms of relief, and “know your rights” information in English and in Spanish.
Visit the Learning CenterThis short screening sheet is designed to help child welfare professionals identify potential avenues for noncitizen youth to gain legal status.
Get the Screening QuestionsA practice resource for attorneys determining the eligibility of DACA seekers for longer-term immigration relief options.
Get the ResourceDesigned for practitioners who are representing child clients in removal proceedings or advising family members of child clients in removal proceedings, this practice advisory offers multiple tips including risk mitigation strategies.
Read the AdvisorySIJS is defined to explain its significance for immigrant children and for the role social workers may play in support of the status. (Link provides abstract only without institutional or paid access.)
Read the AbstractThis resource guide for the State of California provides current practice in the state with the largest population of children in immigrant families.
Get the Resource Guide
© 2026 CICW.