Securing the Future for Our Youngest Clients

Since March of 2024, 44 of our Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status clients have become eligible to apply for permanent residence, also known as a “Green Card.” RILA met these individuals more than five years ago, when many were still in elementary or middle school. Now, most are teens and young adults rebuilding their lives in America.

In order to petition for SIJ status, a Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (JDR) must determine that the child was abused, abandoned or neglected by a parent, and that it is not in the child’s best interest to return to their home country. One such client was Josue* who was just nine-years-old when he fled his home with his mother, Yeni*. She says, “I was experiencing domestic abuse from my partner. He abused me in many ways. I tried to escape from him, but he continued to harm and threaten me. I knew that the only way to survive was to flee to the United States.”

RILA represented Yeni at JDR Court, where a judge ruled that: Yeni should have sole custody of Josue (Josue had suffered physical and emotional abuse by his dad) and that it was in not Josue’s best interest to return to his home country. A few months later United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) granted Josue Special Immigrant Juvenile status, and, like all other SIJ grantees, Josue was placed on a USCIS waitlist to apply for permanent residence. This past spring when he finally became eligible to apply for his Green Card, RILA assisted him with that process.

Josue adapted very quickly to American culture. Now a 10th grader, he speaks English fluently, has made friends and hopes to play on his high school basketball team. “I want my son to attend college or pursue a trade he is passionate about,” his mom says.

RILA represents more than 140 children and teens who have been granted SIJ status and are waiting to become eligible to apply for permanent residence, which will put them on the path to apply for U.S. citizenship. Our vision is that every SIJ-eligible child in Northern Virginia would be legally represented and given the opportunity to safely live in the U.S.

“The first time I was told that Josue’s SIJ status case had been approved, I felt very happy because it was another door that had opened for my son. Now that he is waiting for his Green Card, I am very grateful to God and to RILA because it is a great achievement. Josue has been living in this country for seven years and, by the grace of God, he is already waiting for his Green Card. Having a Green Card will allow him to pursue all his goals in this country.”

*Name has been changed for safety.