CLCM Co-Authors Advisory on the End of SIJS Deferred Action

The End the SIJS Backlog Coalition has released a new practice advisory, "Practice Alert: Termination of the SIJS Deferred Action Policy," offering critical guidance to practitioners in response to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) abrupt termination of the SIJS Deferred Action Policy. The resource—co-authored with contributions from the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts (CLCM) and other coalition partners—provides timely analysis and practical recommendations for those representing SIJS-eligible youth. 

On June 6, 2025, USCIS announced it would end the granting and renewal of deferred action and work authorizations for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) beneficiaries awaiting green cards. This change strips away essential interim protections—deportation relief and lawful employment authorization—for an estimated 200,000 SIJS youth who have already been found by a state court to have suffered parental abuse, abandonment, or neglect. 

The advisory warns of the severe consequences of this policy shift, including: 

• Denial of renewal for existing deferred action and work permits. 

• Denial of initial consideration for future SIJS beneficiaries. 

• Heightened risks of deportation, labor exploitation, loss of educational and economic stability, and compounded mental health harm for SIJS youth. 

In addition to analyzing the termination’s impact, the advisory details ongoing litigation efforts, including a class-action lawsuit filed July 17, 2025, seeking to restore the deferred action policy and compel USCIS to decide pending applications for work authorizations. 

As a proud member of the End the SIJS Backlog Coalition, CLCM contributes decades of child advocacy experience to this national effort to uphold the promise of permanent protection for SIJS youth. Claire Valentin, CLCM’s Managing Director of Innovation and Advocacy, brought her expertise to the advisory, reflecting the organization’s commitment to advancing the dignity, safety, and self-determination of all children. 

CLCM and its coalition partners urge attorneys, advocates, and community members to: 

• Share the practice advisory widely with those serving SIJS-eligible youth. 

• Re-screen all SIJS youth for other potential forms of immigration relief and review these options thoroughly with youth. 

• Connect with the larger advocacy movement by joining the End the SIJS Backlog Coalition.