Immigration

To qualify, a state court must determine that:

• The child is under 21 and unmarried.
• The child is dependent on the court or placed with a court-appointed caregiver.
• The child cannot reunify with one or both parents due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a similar reason.
• It is not in the best interest of the child to return to his or her home country.

With this state court order, a child can apply to federal immigration officials for SIJS, which removes key barriers to obtaining a green card. We have helped dozens of children secure SIJS and lawful permanent residency.

In 2023, we partnered with Kids In Need of Defense (KIND) to launch a cohort-based model that allows our lawyers to handle cases more efficiently and collaboratively. By grouping similar cases, placing them on coordinated schedules, and supporting volunteer teams with experienced mentors, we are able to serve more children while maintaining high-quality, individualized representation. Cases from our current cohort include:

• Two sisters from Ecuador who, after the death of their mother, escaped an abusive father and now live safely with their older sister in New Jersey. One dreams of becoming a singer, the other hopes to pursue gymnastics.
• An 18-year-old from Mauritania who endured years of unpaid labor and abuse by an uncle and now lives safely with his brother in New Jersey, allowing him to focus on building a new life.
• Siblings from Guatemala who had been abandoned by their father and now live with their mother in New Jersey. She wants to be a great mother, and he wants to be a police officer.

This cohort model strengthens our impact—allowing us to share our knowledge and experience, expand capacity, and sustain this vital work for years to come.