Why You Should Attend

Unaccompanied immigrant children (UACs) from Central America have been coming to California in increasing numbers for the past few years. These children are placed in removal proceedings, and without access to government appointed counsel, they have difficulties navigating the confusing and complex immigration system alone. Many children are eligible for some form of humanitarian relief or have other avenues to avoid deportation, however without an attorney to help them, the majority are ordered removed to their home countries, often to very dangerous conditions. Attorneys who work with immigrant youth, or pro bono attorneys interested in working on these issues, can learn the basics of the immigration detention and removal process for children, best practices for working with these children, how to effectively present asylum and special immigrant juvenile status claims, and other removal defense strategies.

What You Will Learn

• Best practices for working with children including interviewing techniques and trauma informed practices
• Overview of immigration detention and removal system for children
• Overview of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), including inadmissibility issues
• Nuts and bolts of SIJS cases in California probate court proceedings (seeking guardianship)
• Nuts and bolts of SIJS cases in California family court proceedings (seeking custody)
• Representing SIJS eligible clients before USCIS and EOIR
• Asylum claims for children
• Removal defense strategies (e.g., challenging the Notice to Appear (charging document), evidence of alienage, and other evidence brought forward by DHS)
• Benefits available for immigrant youth (education, public benefits, etc.)

Who Should Attend

Attorneys interested in assisting or representing immigrant youth, firm pro bono coordinators and partners, law clinic students and faculty, public interest and non-profit organization attorneys and staff, immigration advocates, and other providers working with immigrant youth.

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PLI Can Arrange Group Viewing to Your Firm

Contact the Groupcasts Department via email at groupcasts@pli.edu for more details.

The full two-day schedule can be viewed at PLI.