Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Pathway

about us

This project focuses on unaccompanied children arriving in the U.S. Almost 140,000 unaccompanied minors (UCs) arrived in the U.S. in 2023, reflecting a 73% increase compared to the previous year. Through this project, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the conditions surrounding Special Immigrant Juvenile Status as a form of immigration relief for UCs and how to better analyze cases that might qualify for SIJS. They will also develop a familiarization with the probate courts in Connecticut as well as the importance of trauma-informed care. Students have the opportunity to hear about the true and lived experiences of unaccompanied minors and the trajectory of their lives as they travel from their home countries to an unknown life in the United States.

In collaboration with Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants

Please contact casey.arias@yale.edu and/or bilal.kharrat@yale.edu if you have any questions about the project!