Every child deserves safety. Every child deserves a future.

At Estrella del Paso, we, the attorneys, stand beside children who are detained and facing court alone. Through Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), we fight to protect minors who have suffered abuse, neglect, or abandonment – and help them find safety and stability in the U.S. SIJS is a unique immigration pathway created to protect the most vulnerable: children who cannot safely return to their home countries and who need the support of a legal guardian in the United States. But the process is complex—and often overwhelming for youth to face alone. That’s where we come in.

🛡️ Guardians and Protectors: What We Do

To win SIJS protection, a young person must first navigate two distinct legal systems:

• State Court: Where a judge must make a legal finding that the child cannot reunify with one or both parents due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment, and that it’s not in their best interest to return to their country.

• Immigration Court/USCIS: Where those findings are used to apply for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, which can lead to lawful permanent residence (a green card).

Without expert legal help, children can be left vulnerable to deportation—even after surviving trauma no child should endure. Estrella del Paso provides:

• Free legal representation in both state and immigration court

• Guardianship support and court preparation

• Trauma-informed advocacy to ensure every child is seen, heard, and protected

• Wraparound services to help youth access education, healthcare, and stability

📚 Their Stories Inspire Us. Your Support Empowers Them.

From Abuse to Stability

A 7-year-old child from Central America was the victim of human trafficking. The child’s mother agreed to release the child to a man who was not a relative in an attempt to enter the U.S. through Mexico as a fake family unit. In exchange, the mother would receive future payments. The U.S. Border Patrol discovered the plot and transferred the child to the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Estrella del Paso’s team of attorneys defended the child against being deported in immigration court and obtained a trafficking visa for the child, who is now being raised in the U.S. by a foster family.

Reunited After the Wait

A young man who was in a shelter opereated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement turned 18 years old and aged-out of ORR custody. He was transferred to an adult ICE detention facility where he was detained in violation of a special law. After an immigration judge initially denied bond, our attorney filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking the youth’s release. The young man would call his attorney every day for updates, even when there was no new information to share. The Estrella del Paso team litigated the case for months while the youth was detained. Meanwhile, our attorneys obtained Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for the youth. Finally, after another six months, an immigration judge ordered the young man’s release, and he was able to reunite and move in with a family friend.

From Detention to High School Graduation

A child in one of the shelters operated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement where Estrella del Paso provides services qualified for Special Immigrant Juveniile (SIJ) status and asylum. Our team of attorneys secured a predicate order from the state court and filed an I-360 application for the special visa. The visa was approved, but the child is still waiting for a visa to be available amid an ongoing backlag. During the time he waiting, the young person graduated high school! Once a visa becomes available, they will be able to apply to become a lawful permanent resident.

💛 Be a Guardian. Be a Protector. Stand by Us.