Protecting Children of Undocumented Parents: Legal Options During Mass Deportation

This program provides comprehensive guidance on legal strategies for safeguarding children of undocumented parents facing potential deportation. Led by Faith Nouri, CFLS, a dual-licensed attorney with extensive experience in both U.S. and Canadian immigration and family law matters, this program addresses the practical challenges of representing children whose parents face detention or deportation. The course examines various legal alternatives, including immigration, guardianship, adoption, and caregiver authorization under Family Law, with particular attention to how these arrangements can create long-term stability for affected children. 

Participants will learn effective strategies for pursuing relief through juvenile courts, probate courts, family court, and immigration authorities while ensuring that clients understand their rights during interactions with enforcement agencies. This comprehensive approach equips legal professionals with the tools to develop coordinated legal plans that address both the immediate safety needs of children and their long-term immigration status in an increasingly enforcement-focused environment.

Designed for immigration attorneys, family law practitioners, guardianship specialists, Adoption practitioners, and child advocates, this course examines the critical intersection of immigration law with family law, guardianship proceedings, and adoption processes. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze the eligibility requirements and application procedures for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), including the necessary findings from state courts and subsequent USCIS petition process
   
   
2. Evaluate options for relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and U Visa programs, including identifying qualifying crimes, securing law enforcement certification, and navigating pathways to permanent residency
   
   
3. Implement effective guardianship strategies for children of undocumented parents, including preparation of necessary court filings and coordination with potential immigration relief options
   
   
4. Develop appropriate legal frameworks for adoption proceedings involving children of foreign nationals, with particular attention to Hague Convention requirements and age-specific immigration considerations
   
   
5. Design comprehensive legal plans that incorporate family law tools such as caregiver authorizations and medical consent forms to ensure children's immediate stability while pursuing long-term immigration status solutions