About the Coalition

HISTORY OF THE COALITION

In February 2021, hundreds of advocates across the United States met on Zoom to discuss a strategy for ending the SIJS backlog. As a result of this call, the End SIJS Backlog Coalition, spearheaded by one of our founding members who was then an attorney at The Door, formed. The Coalition grew rapidly and now has a membership of over 100 organizations and impacted youth across the country. In March 2023, the Coalition received its first independent grant and became housed at the National Immigration Project, a membership organization of attorneys, advocates, and community members who are driven by the belief that all people should be treated with dignity, live freely, and flourish.

MISSION STATEMENT

The End SIJS Backlog Coalition, a national group of directly impacted youth and allied advocates, exists to educate Congress, relevant administrative agencies and the public about the harmful impacts of visa caps on vulnerable immigrant children, and to advocate for an end to the backlog. We aim to center the voices and experiences of SIJS backlog impacted youth, whose stories are the heartbeat of our work and best illustrate how ending the backlog can restore the purpose of the statute — realizing permanent legal protection in the United States for immigrant children who have survived abuse, abandonment and neglect.

OUR WORK IN THIS MOMENT

As SIJS youth face new threats, including the termination of the SIJS Deferred Action Policy, we fight to defend the rights of SIJS youth seeking permanent protection in the United States. In this moment, we are urgently mobilizing to safeguard the limited protections SIJS youth have, to help SIJS youth understand their rights, and to equip the legal community with the tools they need to stand alongside them. At the same time, we continue to push for a lasting solution to the SIJS backlog, so that SIJS youth have the protection they deserve.

Steering Committee

Dalia Castillo-Granados

Director

ABA Children's Immigration Law Academy

Rachel L. Davidson

Director

End SIJS Backlog Coalition

Alejandra Cruz

Youth Organizer

End SIJS Backlog Coalition

Adriana Moreno Nevarez

Staff Attorney

Bet Tzedek Legal Services

Rebecca Scholtz

Senior Staff Attorney

National Immigration Project

Tina Romero

Senior Staff Attorney

Legal Aid Society

Susan Schmidt

Professor of Social Work and Field Director

Luther College

Our Working Groups

To get engaged in our active working groups, please email the contact person listed for each group for more information.

Defensive Support

The Defensive Support Group is the strategic hub of the coalition that monitors SIJS specific policy changes, creates practitioner facing resources on SIJS backlog related policy changes, and provides impact litigation and case campaign support in coordination with the Narrative-Based Advocacy group.

Accomplishments:

Contact Dalia Castillo-Granados at Dalia.Castillo-Granados@abacila.org to join the group or for more information.

Narrative-Based Advocacy

The Narrative-Based Advocacy Group leverages SIJS youth stories as a strategy in countering negative rhetoric about SIJS youth coming from the administration, Congress, or other actors. It continues to lead legislative advocacy for passage of the Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act, as well as defensive advocacy to combat anti-SIJS legislation. The working group elevates youth stories to members of Congress, supports impact litigation, and is the strategic hub at the Coalition for SIJS case campaigns.

Accomplishments:

  • In-person and virtual advocacy on the Hill with impacted youth.

  • Introduction of the Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act in the House of Representatives by Representatives Espaillat, Gomez, and Lofgren (2022, 2023, and 2025) and in the Senate by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (2023 and 2025).

  • Introduction of INA Amendments in the WISE Act by Representative Pramila Jayapal (2022 and 2023).

  • Introduction of INA Amendments that would end the SIJS backlog in 2023 House and Senate DHS Appropriations bills.

  • Directive to USCIS in 2023 and 2024 House and Senate DHS Appropriations Bills to publish quarterly data on SIJS.

Contact Rachel Davidson at rachel@nipnlg.org to join the group or for more information.

Youth Organizing

The Youth Organizing Group organizes and empowers backlog impacted youth to share their stories, to speak out for an end to the SIJS backlog and to work to defend their right to seek permanent protection in the United States. In tandem with the narrative-based advocacy working group, youth leaders advocate with members of Congress for an end to the SIJS backlog. The group aspires to build community among impacted youth and act as partners with the broader coalition in defining youth-led and centered advocacy strategies.

Accomplishments:

  • Deferred Action resources created by youth for youth. 

  • Youth resources developed for lawyers to share with youth.

  • Community meetings and know your rights trainings for impacted youth led by impacted youth. 

  • Impacted youth trips to Washington D.C. for in-person advocacy.

  • Hiring of full-time youth organizer for the Coalition!

  • Launching the Know Your Rights Training Program for SIJS Youth

  • Creation of the first SIJS Youth Leadership Council

Contact Alejandra Cruz at alejandra@nipnlg.org to join the group or for more information.

Coalition Members

Our Funders

The Ends SIJS Backlog Coalition is grateful for the generous support of the following funders:

Abundant Futures Fund
Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
Marinus and Minna B. Koster Foundation