November 10, 2014

MLG Obtains Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Visa for an Unaccompanied Minor

In a recent case, Montero Law Group filed a petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) on behalf of a client from Guatemala, asking that USCIS grant the client a Special Immigrant Juvenile Visa.

Like many youths from Latin America, our client left Guatemala due to a lack of parental care and educational opportunities. At age 14, our client was abandoned by his mother and was forced to quit school and work in the fields to support himself and his siblings. At age 16, he made the journey to the United States with the hopes of reuniting with his father. However, our client was detained by immigration authorities and placed in deportation proceedings.

Upon release to the custody of his father, the client, with the help of the Latin American Youth Center and Catholic Charities, retained Montero Law Group to represent him on a pro-bono basis. Montero Law Group filed a petition for custody on behalf of the client’s father and obtained the prerequisite Order from the State family court. With the Order, we were able to file a petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Now that the petition has been approved, we will be seeking to terminate the deportation proceedings against the client, and assist the client with his application for Permanent Residence, or “green card.” The “green card” will enable the client to attend college and pursue his dream of becoming a high school teacher.

If you or someone you know is the caretaker of a minor who fled their home country because of lack of parental care, neglect, or abuse, contact us at 301-588-8100 for a free consultation to determine whether the minor is eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.