Immigration Clinic Finds Relief for Abandoned Juvenile Client
Immigration Judge Marilyn J. Teeter granted relief to a juvenile Mongolian client of the UC Davis School of Law Immigration Clinic on September 12, 2006. The client came to the attention of the Yolo County Public Defender's Office when an attorney realized that a juvenile in custody had no criminal charges pending against him. He had been arrested for a minor traffic violation, and since no one claimed responsibility for him, he remained in custody.
Through investigation, the public defender discovered the juvenile was abandoned by his parents when they returned to Mongolia, leaving him to fend for himself. The Public Defender's Office and the Immigration Clinic worked collaboratively to represent the child in both dependency and immigration proceedings.
Eventually, the child became a dependent of Yolo County and was placed in foster care. David King '07 began work on obtaining a Special Immigrant Juvenile Visa (SIJ) and legal permanent residency for the client. The SIJ Visa is rarely granted because many officials are unfamiliar with its unique procedures, and the request was refused on two prior occasions before King finally obtained approval. Permanent resident status followed.
Immigration laws provide special relief for children who have endured abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Holly Cooper '98 said that many immigrant children in foster care are unaware that they can obtain immigration status because of past abuse, abandonment, or neglecteven if the abuse happened outside the United States.
Through investigation, the public defender discovered the juvenile was abandoned by his parents when they returned to Mongolia, leaving him to fend for himself. The Public Defender's Office and the Immigration Clinic worked collaboratively to represent the child in both dependency and immigration proceedings.
Eventually, the child became a dependent of Yolo County and was placed in foster care. David King '07 began work on obtaining a Special Immigrant Juvenile Visa (SIJ) and legal permanent residency for the client. The SIJ Visa is rarely granted because many officials are unfamiliar with its unique procedures, and the request was refused on two prior occasions before King finally obtained approval. Permanent resident status followed.
Immigration laws provide special relief for children who have endured abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Holly Cooper '98 said that many immigrant children in foster care are unaware that they can obtain immigration status because of past abuse, abandonment, or neglecteven if the abuse happened outside the United States.