Frequently Asked Questions About USCIS’s SIJS Deferred Action Policy

The End SIJS Backlog Coalition, a project of the National Immigration Project, is a nationwide coalition of directly impacted youth and allied advocates seeking to eradicate the SIJS backlog legislatively, and in the meantime mitigate its worst harms through administrative reforms. The Coalition appreciates USCIS’s deferred action policy as a needed first step in protecting these youth. However, we continue to encourage Congress to pass legislation eliminating the numerical visa limits and to urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enact more robust and lasting protection through regulations that recognize that all Special Immigrant Juveniles should be afforded employment authorization and protection from removal until they are able to apply for a green card. This FAQ provides an overview of the SIJS deferred action policy.