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 150 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.

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.

Administrative Advocacy

The Administrative Advocacy Working Group pushes for policy and regulatory solutions to mitigate the worst harms of the SIJS backlog while we wait for Congress to act to end the backlog altogether. The working group advocates with relevant government agencies, provides information to and supports political allies supporting our cause, and monitors administrative changes and trends impacting youth in the SIJS backlog.

Accomplishments:

  • May 2021 letter to USCIS, ICE, and EOIR signed by over 400 organizations and individuals.

  • Employment Authorization and Protection from Removal – In May of 2022, USCIS began considering deferred action and related employment authorization for SIJS youth in the backlog who have an approved I-360 form.

  • Continued engagement with USCIS and ICE on issues related to SIJS youth.

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

Legislative Advocacy

The Legislative Advocacy Working Group educates and builds relationships with members of Congress, pushes for a legislative solution to the backlog, and shows that there is real political power behind the call to end the SIJS backlog in order to shift the political calculus and build a Congress that will end the SIJS backlog and provide permanent protection for SIJS youth.

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 and 2023) and in the Senate by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (2023).

  • 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 and speak out for an end to the SIJS backlog. In tandem with the legislative advocacy working group, youth leaders advocate with members of Congress. The group aspires to build community among impacted youth and act as partners with the broader coalition in defining advocacy strategy.

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!

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

Coalition Members