Challenging the Trump Administration’s Unlawful Termination of Protections for Immigrant Youth and Children

A.C.R.

A.C.R. resides in New York City, with her older brother, whom a family court appointed as her guardian. She came to the U.S. in 2024 from Guatemala when she was 17 to escape parental maltreatment and neglect. She expects to graduate from high school in 2026, and hopes someday to become an astronaut, but her lack of access to work authorization will frustrate her further education and progress toward this goal. USCIS approved her petition for SIJS on May 1, 2025, but did not consider her for deferred action.

J.G.V.

J.G.V. resides in Southern California. He came to the U.S. in 2024 from Mexico when he was 17 to escape parental maltreatment. He has lived in a foster home in California for about a year. He attends high school and expects to graduate in 2026. His dream is to pursue education toward a career as a mechanic. USCIS approved his petition for SIJS on April 7, 2025, but did not consider him for deferred action.

E.A.R.

E.A.R. resides in Houston, Texas. He came to the U.S. from Honduras in 2024 when he was 17 due to parental neglect and abandonment. He lives with his aunt and extended family, and hopes for a career in construction. USCIS approved his petition for SIJS on April 17, 2025, but did not consider him for deferred action.

C.V.R.

C.V.R. resides in Houston, Texas. He came to the U.S. in 2024 from Honduras when he was 17 to escape parental abuse, neglect, and abandonment. He lives with his aunt and extended family. USCIS approved his petition for SIJS on April 18, 2025, but did not consider him for deferred action.

L.M.R.

L.M.R. resides in New York City. She came to the U.S. in 2023 from Honduras when she was 17 to escape parental abuse, neglect, and abandonment. She lives in a foster home, attends high school, and hopes to one day join the U.S. military. USCIS approved her petition for SIJS on January 30, 2025, with a four-year grant of deferred action that expires on January 30, 2029. L.M.R. applied for work authorization based on her deferred action grant, but her application remains pending, and USCIS no longer considers her eligible for work authorization.

S.M.M.

S.M.M. resides in Long Island, NY. He came to the U.S. in 2021 from Honduras when he was 15 to escape parental abuse. He lives with his uncle and recently graduated from high school. His dream is to become a doctor. USCIS approved his petition for SIJS on January 9, 2025, with a four-year grant of deferred action that expires on January 9, 2029. S.M.M. applied for work authorization based on his deferred action grant, but his application remains pending, and USCIS no longer considers him eligible for work authorization.

Y.A.M.

Y.A.M. resides in Long Island, NY. She came to the U.S. from Honduras when she was about 13 because she was abandoned by her father and had no one to protect her from violence in Honduras, where she was shot at, kidnapped, and assaulted. She now works as a school bus driver assistant and hopes to return to school to someday become a lawyer. She has a three-year-old son who relies on her for care and support. She has medical conditions and relies on her employer-provided health insurance to receive the care she needs. USCIS approved her SIJS deferred action on May 12, 2022, and it expires on May 12, 2026. She will not be able to renew her deferred action or work authorization because of USCIS’s rescission of the SIJS Deferred Action Policy.

B.R.C.

B.R.C. resides in New York City. She came to the U.S. from Honduras when she was about 14 because her father abandoned her and her mother neglected and abandoned her, and there was no one who could care for her. She is currently studying to become a lab technician at a local community college and working at a salad store to pay her tuition. Her dream is to transfer to a four-year college and become either a dental hygienist or another medical professional. USCIS approved her SIJS deferred action on October 27, 2022, and it expires on October 27, 2026. She will not be able to renew her deferred action or work authorization because of USCIS’s rescission of the SIJS Deferred Action Policy.

J.C.B.

J.C.B. resides in Michigan. He came to the U.S. from Honduras when he was around 15 because his father passed away and his mother could not protect him from the physical abuse of his stepbrother. He was in long-term foster care for several years. He graduated high school and is currently working in a factory that manufactures car parts. His dream is to go to college and become a mechanic. USCIS approved his SIJS deferred action on May 12, 2022, and it expires on May 12, 2026. He will not be able to renew his deferred action or work authorization because of USCIS’s rescission of the SIJS Deferred Action Policy.