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Immigration Practice Resources

Search immigration practice advisories, sample filings, manuals, brief banks, and government guidance from trusted practitioner sources.

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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Apr 27, 2026

What is Happening with Deferred Action for Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJs)

On April 10, 2026, USCIS issued a new memo again terminating the SIJS deferred action (DA) policy (“April 10th Memo”). Under the April 10th Memo, USCIS will no longer automatically consider granting DA to young people granted SIJS. This termination memo does not, however, go into effect until May 10, 2026, and only applies to SIJS petitions filed on or after that date. This practice alert discusses what the April 10th Memo means for SIJS petitions and SIJS DA renewals filed prior to and on or af

Special immigrant Children and SIJS USCIS Immigration court Direct PDF
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National Immigration Project Practice advisory Apr 14, 2026

Practice Alert: Guidance on Adjustment of Status for Youth with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Using INA § 245(h) with a Non-SIJS Petition

There is a largely un-tested legal argument that young people with approved SIJS petitions can use the SIJS-specific adjustment provisions at INA § 245(h) to satisfy the “inspected and admitted or paroled” requirement that applies to many other forms of adjustment, allowing the youth with SIJS to use that provision even if they are not seeking adjustment based on their approved SIJS petition but rather using some other non-SIJS immigrant petition. This practice alert from the End SIJS Backlog Co

Detention / bond Adjustment of status Special immigrant Immigration court Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Apr 13, 2026

Arguments for Using the SIJS-based Adjustment Provision to Adjust Based on a Different Petition

This practice alert, created in partnership with the End SIJS Backlog Coalition, explores a largely un-tested legal argument that young people with approved SIJS petitions can use the SIJS-specific adjustment provisions at INA § 245(h) to satisfy the “inspected and admitted or paroled” requirement to adjust using some other non-SIJS immigrant petition (for example, a spousal petition). This practice alert provides background on SIJS and adjustment of status under INA § 245(h), offers legal argum

Detention / bond Adjustment of status Special immigrant Immigration court Direct PDF
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National Immigration Project Practice advisory Feb 26, 2026

The March 2026 Visa Bulletin: What It Means for SIJS Youth

The March 2026 Visa Bulletin reflects significant forward movement in the EB-4 category, with a Final Action Date of July 15, 2021, and a Filing Date of January 1, 2023. This movement means that on March 1, 2026, many youth with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) will be able to apply for adjustment of status and accompanying work authorization. This resource is meant to provide guidance to advocates who work with SIJS youth who are eligible to file for adjustment of status based on the Ma

Adjustment of status Consular practice Special immigrant Immigration court Direct PDF
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National Immigration Project Practice advisory Jan 13, 2026

Quick Guide to Release from Immigration Detention for SIJS Youth

IMPORTANT: On February 6, 2026, the Fifth Circuit ruled in Buenrostro-Mendez v. Bondi , No. 25-20496, that noncitizens in removal proceedings who have not been admitted are subject to "mandatory" detention under 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(2)(A). This resource has not been updated since the Buenrostro decision. If you are filing a habeas petition in a district within the Fifth Circuit, you will need to adapt your legal claims in light of the Buenrostro-Mendez v. Bondi decision, e.g. by focusing on constitu

Removal defense Detention / bond Federal court Immigration court Federal district court Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Apr 3, 2025

Quick Guide: Defending SIJS Clients in Removal Proceedings

This practice advisory, authored with our partners at the End SIJS Backlog Coalition, Children's Immigration Law Academy, National Immigration Project, and Safe Passage Project, offers strategies at every stage of an SIJS client’s removal proceedings to advocate against the client’s removal and to preserve the record for appeal, including:

Removal defense BIA appeals Special immigrant Immigration court BIA Direct PDF
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National Immigration Project Practice advisory Apr 2, 2025

Quick Guide: Defending SIJS Clients in Removal Proceedings

This practice advisory, created by The End SIJS Backlog Coalition, is intended to help practitioners navigate removal proceedings for clients with pending or approved SIJS. It offers strategies at every stage of an SIJS client’s removal proceedings to advocate against the client’s removal and to preserve the record for appeal. Section II covers strategies for pleading to the Notice to Appear. Section III discusses challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s evidence of removability. Sectio

Removal defense BIA appeals Special immigrant Immigration court BIA Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Mar 20, 2025

The Laken Riley Act & Juvenile Delinquency

The Laken Riley Act (LRA) was signed into law by President Trump on January 29, 2025. It amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by expanding mandatory detention of certain inadmissible noncitizens who are merely arrested or charged with certain offenses. This practice advisory addresses the question of whether the provisions of the LRA that seek to vastly increase the number of people subject to mandatory immigration detention would be triggered by children engaging in acts of juvenile

Detention / bond Special immigrant Children and SIJS Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Nov 15, 2024

The 21st Birthday Eligibility Cutoff for SIJS

Under current USCIS regulations, any person under 21 years of age who otherwise meets the eligibility requirements may be granted SIJS. This practice alert addresses many of the unsuccessful arguments that USCIS has not accepted when a petition received by USCIS after the youth turns 21. In rare cases, USCIS has accepted petitions received after the petitioner’s 21st birthday when there is proof that the petition was improperly rejected or receipted by USCIS before the deadline. This practice al

Special immigrant USCIS Immigration court Direct PDF
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