At the peer-to-peer session on June 1st, 2021, presenters Judge Julie Breslow, Judge Mary Grace Rook, and Adjunct Professor Leslye E. Orloff discussed the various immigration options available to immigrant victims using a hypothetical provided to members before the session. They discussed Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), the T-Visa, the U-Visa, and VAWA Self Petition in depth, using the Clara and Eduardo hypothetical as a guide to reveal which circumstances make immigrant adults and children eligible for each of these protections. They also presented on the specific role that Congress created for state courts to play with regard to these protections for immigrant victims of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect, human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault. On this webpage you will find a pdf of the PowerPoint slides, the Clara and Eduardo hypothetical, and a list of resources for courts including those shared throughout the presentation regarding these various relief options. 

PowerPoint Presentation: https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/wp-content/uploads/NJN-Peer-to-Peer-Forum-06.01.21.pdf

Clara & Eduardo Hypothetical: https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/hypothetical

Highlighted Resources

• U Visa Certification and T Visa Declaration Toolkit for Federal, State, and Local Judges, Commissioners, Magistrates, and other Judicial Officers (August 12, 2020)
  • https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/judges-u-and-t-certification-toolkit-2020
• The Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Bench Book: A National Guide to Best Practice for Judges and Courts (April 2018)
  • https://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/pubs/sijs-bench-book-complete

Webinars for Judges or Helpful to Judges

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status

• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status – Best Practices of Drafting Findings (May 14, 2019)
• State Court Findings for Youth Seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (July 13, 2015)

U and T Visa Certification by Judges

• U Visa Certifications and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status: A Judge’s Role (November 30, 2018)
• Expert Advice for Judges: How to Handle U Visa Certification Requests (December 1, 2014)
• Obtaining U Visa Certification from Judges in Protection Order, Family, Criminal, and Other State Court Proceedings (February 20, 2014)
• DHS U and T Visa Certification Videos for Law Enforcement (Helpful to courts and all certifiers) (September 26, 2013)

VAWA Confidentiality, Discovery and Courthouse Enforcement

• VAWA Self-Petition: Protections for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Abuse by Abusive Spouses and Parents (April 22, 2020)
• Protections for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence Under the Violence Against Women Act Confidentiality Protections (October 22, 2018)
• Impact of DHS Enforcement Priorities on Courts: VAWA Confidentiality and Enforcement (August 21, 2018)
• VAWA Confidentiality Webinar (February 9, 2015)
• VAWA Confidentiality: Understanding the Three Safeguards and Limited Discovery Exceptions When Advocating for Survivors in Family and Criminal State Courts (February 5, 2015)

Forms of Immigration Relief

• Blue Card: Screening Tool for Victims Who Qualify for Immigration Protective Relief (March 2, 2018)

U and T Visa Certification

• U Visa Certification and T Visa Declaration Toolkit for Federal, State, and Local Judges, Commissioners, Magistrates, and other Judicial Officers (August 12, 2020)
• Model U and T Visa certification Protocol for State Courts (October 29, 2020)
• U Visa Quick Reference for Judges (October 14, 2020)
• T Visa Quick Reference Guide for Judges (October 14, 2020)
• U-Visa Application Flow Chart for Judges (October 14, 2020)
• T Visa Application Flow Chart for Judges (July 3, 2020)
• U Visa Protections for Family Members (July 3, 2020)
• T Visa Protections for Family Members (July 3, 2020)
• U-Visa: “Helpfulness” Checklist (October 21, 2019)
• DHS U and T Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide (November, 2015)
• DHS Policy Answers to Law Enforcement Reasons for Not Certifying
• Bench Card: U and T Visa Certification Reporting Requirements in California (June 25, 2020)
• U and T Visa Certifications and Certification Reporting Requirements in California (June 25, 2020)
• USCIS U Visa Certification Factsheet Q&A
• Stories From the Field: the Crime Fighting Effectiveness of the U Visa (August 27, 2020)
• Collection of U Visa News Articles
• The Importance of the U-visa as a Crime-Fighting Tool for Law Enforcement Officials – Views from Around the Country
• Protecting Our Communities and Officer Safety
• Overcoming Fear and Building Trust With Immigrant Communities and Crime Victims (Police Chief Magazine April 2018)
• Bench Card: DHS Enforcement Priorities, Courthouse Enforcement and Sensitive Location Policies and Memoranda: Information for State Court Judges
• Understanding the Judicial Role in U-Visa Certification, American Journal of Family Law
• New U and T Visa Application and Certification Forms (January and February 2017)
• Immigrant Crime Victims and U Visa Certification – What is it and Why Should Judges Care? (National)
• Immigrant Crime Victims and U Visa Certification – What is it and Why Should Judges Care? (Minnesota)
• U Visa Certification by Judges: Minnesota Board of Judicial Standards Opinion
• National Survey on Types of Criminal Activities: Experienced By U-Visa Recipients
• Expert Advice for Judges: How to Handle U Visa Certification Requests (Webinar)
• State Laws

Forms and Instructions

• DHS: Instructions for Form I-914, Supplement B
• DHS: Form I-914, Supplement B for T visa Endorsement
• DHS: Instructions for Form I-918, Supplement B, for U visa Certification
• DHS: Form I-918, Supplement B, for U visa Certification
• T Visa Declaration (Certification) I-914 Supplement B Instructions (January 18, 2017)
• T Visa Declaration (Certification) Form I-914 Supplement B (January 18, 2017)

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Child Abuse & Protective Battered Immigrant Parents

Full Training Manual

• The Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Bench Book: A National Guide to Best Practice for Judges and Courts (April 2018)

SIJS Bench Book Table of Contents

• Chapter I – Introduction to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
• Chapter II – Details About Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Findings
• Chapter III – Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect – The Role of State Law Definitions in Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Findings
• Chapter IV – Application of the Best Interest of the Child Standard in SIJS
  • Chapter V-1 – Adoption Quick Reference
  • Chapter V-2 – Civil Protection Orders Quick Reference Guide
  • Chapter V-3 – Custody Quick Reference Guide
  • Chapter V-4 – SIJS in Declaratory Judgment Cases Quick Reference
  • Chapter V-5 – Delinquency Quick Reference
  • Chapter V-6 – Dependency Quick Reference
  • Chapter V-7 – Guardianship Quick Reference
  • Chapter V-8 – Paternity Quick Reference Guide
• Chapter VI – Inadmissibility in SIJS
• Chapter VII – Service of Process in SIJS
• Appendix A – SIJS Statutory and Regulatory Provisions
• Appendix B – SIJS Legislative History
• Appendix C ­­– TVPRA-SIJ Neufeld Memo
• Appendix D1 – USCIS SIJS Policy Manual Full – Vol 6
• Appendix D2 – USCIS SIJS Policy Manual Full – Vol 7
• Appendix E – Understanding the Significance of a Minor’s Trauma History in Family Court Rulings
• Appendix F – DHS Interactive Infographic on Protections for Immigrant Victims
• Appendix G – DHS Immigrants Options for Victims of Crime (English)
• Appendix H – DHS SIJS Brochure
• Appendix I – DOJ Language Access Letter to Courts
• Appendix J – Types of Proceedings SIJS Findings
• Appendix K – State Law Definitions of Child Abuse
• Appendix L – Abandonment of Children Statutes Definitions
• Appendix M – State Law Definitions of Child Neglect
• Appendix N – Domestic Violence Includes Child Abuse and Child Neglect
• Appendix O – States Definitions of Child Endangerment as More Severe Than Neglect
• Appendix P – State Law Definitions of Forced Marriage as Child Abuse
• Appendix Q – Best Interests of the Child Matrix
• Appendix Q-1 – Best Interests of the Child All Factors
• Appendix Q-2 – Best Interests – Catch All
• Appendix Q-3 – Best Interests – Child’s Family Relationships
• Appendix Q-4 – Best Interests – Child’s Needs
• Appendix Q-5 – Best Interests – Child’s Wishes
• Appendix Q-6 – Best Interests Continuity and Stability of Child Factor
• Appendix Q-7 – Best Interests of the Child – Family Violence
• Appendix Q-8 – Best Interests – Joint Custody
• Appendix Q-9 – Best Interests – Parental Cooperation Conflict
• Appendix Q-10 – Best Interests – Parental Fitness
• Appendix Q-11 – Best Interests – Parental Wishes
• Appendix Q-12 – Best Interests – Substance Abuse, Mental Illness, and Criminal History Factor
• Appendix R – Custody in Protection Orders Proceedings
• Appendix S – Using Declaratory Judgment in Family Law Matters
• Appendix T – Declaratory Judgments – Cases By Topic & State
• Appendix U – SIJS and State Declaratory Judgment Statutes – State by State
• Appendix V – Guardianship Appointment of Guardian Chart
• Appendix W – When Guardianship Terminates
• Appendix X – SIJS Case Law Chart
• Appendix Y – States with Rules Identical to FRCP 4
• Appendix Z – Glossary of Terms for Work with Immigrant Survivors

SIJS Training Materials

• New Practice Advisory on Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Applications Published: Additional Information for Judges and Attorneys
• Factors That Can Demonstrate That It is Not in a Child’s Best Interests to be Returned to Their Home Country (October 2018)
• Immigration Protection Screening Checklist: Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
• Abused, Abandoned, or Neglected: Legal Options for Recent Immigrant Women and Girls (August 2016)
• Types of Proceedings in Which State Courts Can Make Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Findings
• Immigration Relief for Abused Children
• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status: Information for Juvenile Courts
• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status: Information for Child Welfare Workers
• Comparison Chart of VAWA, U, and SIJS
• Representing Undocumented Children Who Have Been Abused, Neglected, or Abandoned (Special Immigrant Juvenile Status)^**
• Special Immigrant Juveniles- Memorandum #2: Clarification of Interim Field Guidance
• Grounds of Inadmissibility for Special Immigrant Juveniles
• Webinar: Special Immigrant Juvenile Status – Best Practices of Drafting Findings

VAWA Self-Petition

• Introduction to VAWA Self-Petitioning and Flow Charts
• VAWA Self-Petitioning Flow Chart for Child Applicants
• Flowchart: VAWA Self-Petitioning Eligibility for Elder Abuse Survivors
• Flowchart: VAWA Self-Petitioning Eligibility for Adults
• Public Benefits Flow Charts: VAWA Self‐Petition and Cancellation, U-Visas, T-Visas, and SIJS
• Battering or Extreme Cruelty: Drawing Examples from Civil Protection Order and Family Law Cases
• Information on the Legal Rights Available to Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence in the US and Facts about Immigrating on a Marriage-based Visa

^**If you have difficulty accessing this publication please contact for assistance NIWAP at (202) 274-4457 or info@niwap.org