In Matter of Z-R-C-N-, the BIA held that a respondent cannot prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim when the person she hired was not an attorney and never represented himself as one. The decision also addresses the speculative nature of SIJ-based adjustment of status where a 4-year visa backlog exists. Immigration practitioners and affected families need to understand both holdings.
USCIS has rescinded its 2022 policy automatically granting deferred action and related work authorization to certain Special Immigrant Juveniles facing visa backlogs, requiring separate discretionary review while leaving SIJ eligibility and adjustment requirements unchanged.
USCIS has released Fiscal Year 2025, Quarter 4 data for Form I-360 Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions, detailing receipts, case status, and adjudication trends. The update offers insight into SIJ filing volumes and processing patterns for applicants and practitioners.
In Matter of Pinzon Rozo, the BIA ruled that an approved special immigrant juvenile classification petition does not justify a removal proceedings continuance when a visa priority date remains unavailable for an uncertain, lengthy period. Learn what this 2026 decision means for SIJ applicants.
