REPORT – PROMOTING ENHANCED ACCESS TO SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS (SIJS): Addressing Abuse by “One Or Both” Parents And Recognizing the Range of Court Proceedings In Which SIJS Orders Can Be Issued (October 10, 2013) [pdf]
This report has been developed to highlight issues that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services should consider as it issues regulations governing implementation of recent legislative improvements to the protections available under immigration law offering Special Immigrant Juvenile Status to abused, abandoned and neglected children. Our work is focused on four key areas, all of which are vital to alleviating poverty and improving the health and safety of immigrant women: immigration policies; economic empowerment; justice system relief for immigrant women; and rights and protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The ultimate agenda is to provide training, technical assistance, advocacy, research, materials and up to date information on government policies and best practices so that advocates, lawyers, police, prosecutors, judges and other professionals have the tools they need to help immigrant women, children and crime victims access the services, justice system and immigration relief, health care, housing, educational opportunities, benefits and other assistance they are legally entitled to receive. NIWAP works with professionals inside and outside of government to forge innovative solutions that improve legal protections and access to justice for immigrant women and children in the United States.