FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2026
CONTACT:
Lilly Gonzalez, media@nipnlg.org
Project now accepting case referrals nationwide and recruiting volunteer attorneys
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Immigration Project and the End SIJS Backlog Coalition launched the SIJS Habeas Project, a national effort to win the release of young people with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) who are being held in ICE detention. The Project is now accepting case referrals from anywhere in the country and recruiting pro bono attorneys to file federal habeas petitions for SIJS youth in ICE custody, with trainings beginning later this week.
The SIJS Habeas Project matches detained SIJS youth with pro bono lawyers, then trains and mentors those lawyers through habeas corpus litigation in federal court. Staff also advise attorneys already working on these cases and, in some cases, take on representation themselves. Coalition advocates and youth leaders track arrests of SIJS youth around the country, and what they find shapes the Project's legal strategy. The Project has been informally placing cases since September and has already found representation for several detained SIJS youth and advised more than a dozen attorneys working on similar cases. With new staff and a finalized intake process, the Project can now take referrals directly and bring on new volunteers.
“Most of the SIJS youth we work with came to this country as children, and a lot of them had already lived through more than anyone should by the time they got here,” said Diana Marin, SIJS Habeas Project Senior Attorney. “The SIJS Habeas Project can be a lifeline for youth with this protection who are unjustly being detained. While we know that access to a lawyer can greatly increase someone’s chances of being released, the demand we are seeing far exceeds what any of us can take on alone. We need charitable lawyers to step up and help us meet this moment.”
Every young person with SIJS has been through a state court that found they experienced parental abuse, abandonment, or neglect, and that it wasn't in their best interest to be sent back to the country they came from. Federal immigration authorities then also approved their petitions. But because of the visa backlog, many will be forced to wait years before they can apply for a green card. Since the start of this Trump administration, ICE has been arresting and detaining more SIJS beneficiaries than ever, including many who have deferred action preventing their deportation.
“Living with the uncertainty of the SIJS backlog is incredibly stressful, especially when our future depends on our immigration status,” said Amber, a young person with SIJS. “Knowing that the SIJS Habeas Project exists and is helping find attorneys who genuinely care about SIJS youth and are willing to dedicate their time and effort to fighting for our freedom and future means so much to me."
The SIJS Habeas Project takes referrals for anyone with an approved SIJS petition (Form I-360) who is being held in ICE detention in the United States. Family members, advocates, and attorneys can submit a referral through this case referral form. Attorneys who are litigating or considering a habeas case for a SIJS youth can ask for a consultation through the technical assistance form. Staff aim to respond within 2-3 business days, and urgent cases, such as when deportation is imminent, can be flagged on either form. Attorneys interested in volunteering to litigate a SIJS habeas case–regardless of prior experience–can sign up through this volunteer form.
“I have years of experience in immigration law but am newer to the federal litigation that is required to most effectively assist our clients in this climate,” said Grace Benton, Benton Immigration Legal Services PLLC. “The Project’s attorneys had multiple strategy calls with me, provided quick, helpful feedback on filings, and offered a wealth of resources and expertise to help my client and me navigate a scary, rapidly changing situation.”
The SIJS Habeas Project is hosting a free, two-part webinar on October 20 and 22, 2026 on the subject of freeing SIJS youth from detention. Attorneys can sign up for one or both trainings at https://nipnlg.org/events.
###
The National Immigration Project is a membership organization of attorneys, advocates, and community members who believe that all people should be treated with dignity, live freely, and flourish. We litigate, advocate, educate, and build bridges across movements to ensure that those most impacted by the immigration and criminal systems are uplifted and supported. Follow the National Immigration Project on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads at @NIPNLG.
The End SIJS Backlog Coalition, a project of the National Immigration Project, is a national group of lawyers, immigrant youth, child welfare organizations and other stakeholders working together to protect the rights of immigrant children seeking permanent legal protection through SIJS.