U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has adopted three Administrative Appeals Office decisions governing eligibility for Special Immigration Juvenile Status (SIJS). The decision make clear that USCIS will expect SIJS orders to cite specific state law provisions governing abuse, neglect, and abandonment, and will undertake an inquiry into whether state court proceedings were brought to address abuse, neglect, or abandonment or solely for the purpose of obtaining immigration status. USCIS has clarified that it will no longer require that the juvenile court have jurisdiction to place the juvenile in the custody of the unfit parent(s) in order to make a qualifying determination regarding the viability of parental reunification.
The text of Matter of D-Y-S-C- can be found here:
The text of Matter of A-O-C- can be found here:
The text of Matter of E-A-L-O- can be found here: