Resources for Defending SIJS Youth
The End SIJS Backlog Coalition, primarily through its Defensive Support Working Group, monitors enforcement against SIJS beneficiaries and provides resources for practitioners defending SIJS beneficiaries. Since January 2025, practitioners have reported a dramatic rise in immigration enforcement against SIJS beneficiaries awaiting a visa, and in recent months immigration courts have become increasingly hostile toward SIJS youth. The Coalition strongly encourages practitioners to make legal arguments opposing the entry of removal orders against SIJS beneficiaries awaiting a visa, to timely appeal such removal orders to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and to connect with broader advocacy efforts when litigating petitions for review in federal court challenging removal orders against SIJS youth awaiting a visa. This page links to practitioner resources for defending SIJS youth awaiting a visa.
The Coalition also asks practitioners to report entry of removal orders, pending BIA appeals, and/or pending petitions for review involving SIJS beneficiaries awaiting a visa via our EOIR survey. We are also tracking trends in ICE enforcement against SIJS youth and trends in SIJS deferred action adjudications. Please support us in this work by reporting your experiences.
Resources for Defending SIJS Youth in Immigration Court and at the BIA
Quick Guide: Defending SIJS Clients in Removal Proceedings (updated May 29, 2026)
Template motion to terminate or alternatively administratively close or continue based on approved SIJS, available to National Immigration Project members in the member portal, or by creating a free CILA account
Template BIA Notice of Appeal challenging removal order against SIJS beneficiary awaiting a visa, available to National Immigration Project members in the member portal, or by creating a free CILA account
Amicus briefs filed by Lowenstein Sandler arguing that Special Immigrant Juveniles are generally not removable on the most commonly charged grounds for removal. See “Protecting Immigrant Children with SIJS from Deportation” here.
If you are litigating (or will be filing) a petition for review in a federal appellate court challenging the removal of an SIJS beneficiary awaiting a visa, please contact Rebecca Scholtz, rscholtz@nipnlg.org, with subject line “SIJS PFR” for coordination and support.
Resources on Challenging Detention of SIJS Youth
Quick Guide to Release from Detention for SIJS Youth (updated Jan. 13, 2026)
Practice Advisory on Habeas in the Fifth and Eighth Circuits after Buenrostro and Avila (May 28, 2026)
Outline of habeas decisions involving SIJS youth, deferred action recipients, and those with prior unaccompanied child determinations (regularly updated)
To join a monthly strategy group and listserv regarding SIJS-related habeas litigation, contact Rebecca Scholtz, rscholtz@nipnlg.org, with subject line “join SIJS habeas group.”
Template habeas petitions for SIJS beneficiaries available to National Immigration Project members in the member portal
Learn about, and refer cases to, the Coalition’s SIJS Habeas Project by visiting this page!
Other Resources for Defending SIJS Youth
Immigrant Legal Resource Center, What Is Happening with Deferred Action for Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJs)? (April 2026)
Outline of habeas decisions involving SIJS youth, deferred action recipients, and those with prior unaccompanied child determinations (regularly updated)