This week, a federal report revealed that a program designed to grant legal status to young immigrant children facing abuse and neglect was reportedly used by the Biden administration to legalize older undocumented immigrants.
The US Citizens’ Immigration Service (USCIS) published this report, highlighting findings related to the program and its petitioners.
• A significant portion of the 2024 petitioners were over 18 years old.
• A number entered the United States without undergoing screenings.
• Many hailed from countries that have been flagged for national security concerns due to inadequate reviews.
• Instances of identity fraud were noted, including forgery of names, birth dates, and citizenship.
Entitled “Crime, Gangs, and Program Integrity Concerns in Special Immigration Juvenile Petitions,” the report documented some troubling aspects:
The inquiry identified 853 individuals suspected of gang affiliations who submitted Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) petitions. Most of these applications were approved. Among them, over 600 were linked to the MS-13 gang, with more than 500 receiving approvals. Some SIJ petitioners tied to MS-13 include at least 70 individuals facing federal assault charges, alongside many others charged with violent crimes. Other identified gang members also include over 100 from the 18th Avenue gang and at least three from the Tren de Aragua gang, as well as numerous members of the Nortenos gang.
The report indicated that 60% of the petitioners were male. Notably, one individual arrested for immigration violations in 2024 allegedly had connections to the Islamic State, known as ISIS.
“Criminal elements are exploiting loopholes in programs intended to protect abused or neglected children,” stated USCIS spokesperson Matthew J. Tragesser. “This report reveals how certain advocacy groups and activist judges are misusing these provisions under the guise of helping vulnerable children.”
The findings in the report suggest that the majority of petitioners over the age of 18 were raised by one biological parent, qualifying for the program because of claims of neglect, abandonment, or lack of parental involvement.
Concerns about the misuse of this program predate the current administration, as noted by Fox News Digital, which highlighted that since 2013, more than 600 MS-13 members have sought special immigrant juvenile visas, with over 500 of those petitions being approved.
According to USCIS:
The SIJ program was established by Congress in 1990 and has undergone several amendments to facilitate legal residency for young undocumented immigrants seeking protection due to abuse or neglect. Importantly, there are no criminal or moral character requirements for SIJ petition approval under current law.
On June 6, USCIS ended certain practices related to evaluating prior behaviors for special immigrant juveniles. Officials noted:
“The previous administration intends to undertake additional measures to secure the integrity of the SIJ program, ensuring that access remains for juveniles focused on addressing significant national security and public safety issues.”
