In the Interest Of: J. J. X. C.

• Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
• Decided: November 9, 2012
• Docket: A12A1225
• Status: Published

Opinion

THIRD DIVISION MILLER, P. J., RAY and BRANCH, JJ.

NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. (Court of Appeals Rule 4 (b) and Rule 37 (b), February 21, 2008) http://www.gaappeals.us/rules/

November 9, 2012

In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A12A1225. IN THE INTEREST OF J. J. X. C., a child.

BRANCH, Judge.

This appeal concerns a Guatemalan boy who, at age 15, came to the United

States on his own, was apprehended at the border by customs officials, and was

eventually released into the care of his brother Nicolas Xivir and Xivir’s wife,

Shaileen Santana, who live in Gwinnett County. Following a deprivation hearing

initiated by Xivir and Santana, a juvenile court found the child to be deprived but

failed to make two requested findings that are relevant to the child’s immigration

status. In their unopposed appeal, Xivir and Santana contend that, in so doing, the

juvenile court erred. At oral argument, they asked this Court to reverse and remand

the case to the juvenile court with instruction to reconsider the issue. There is no

Georgia case law addressing the issues raised herein. The record shows that on May 19, 2011, Xivir and Santana petitioned the

Juvenile Court of Gwinnett County for a finding of deprivation regarding the boy and

an order providing them with legal custody. See OCGA §§ 15-11-2 (8),15-11-35 (4)

& 15-11-54 (a) (2). In their petition, Xivir and Santana asserted, as one ground of

deprivation, that

Pursuant to the Immigration and Naturalization Act § 101 (a) (27) (J) (iii) (I) [ ], should the Court enter an order finding that [J. J. X. C.] is dependent upon the juvenile court, that reunification with one or both parents is not viable and it is not in the “best interest” of the child to return to his parents’ previous country or last habitual residence, a Special Immigrant juvenile visa may be obtained enabling [J. J. X. C.] to remain in the united States legally, and, if he so wishes, ultimately apply for citizenship.

(Emphasis in original.) In their brief for the court, the petitioners asked the court to

make findings in that regard. At the subsequent hearings, the petitioners were

represented by counsel, and the child was represented by a guardian ad litem.

The juvenile court held an emergency hearing on June 30, 2011, at which

Santana testified that she was legally married to the child’s brother, that she is a stay-

at-home mother, and that her husband repairs computers. She introduced a certified

copy of the child’s Guatemalan birth certificate and an English translation. She

2 testified that the child came to live with her, her husband, and their child in February

2011 and that the child’s parents live in Guatemala and are engaged in farming. She

testified that in Guatemala, the child had been harassed by a gang that wanted him as

a member and that he wanted to come to the United States to avoid the gangs and to

protect his life. The child told them the gang had threatened to hurt his family. Santana

further explained that the child is enrolled in high school, gets good grades, and is

beginning to speak English. He has his own bedroom in the house, and the couple are

willing and financially able to provide for him at least until he reaches age 18. The

Department of Family and Children Services performed a study of their home in

connection with the placement of the child.1

The juvenile court also accepted the appellants’ tender of documentary

evidence. In addition to the child’s birth certificate, this evidence includes the child’s

progress report at school , information from the U. S. Department of State regarding

Guatemala, a fact sheet entitled “Gangs in Guatemala” by the Guatemala Human

Rights Commission/USA , and a report entitled “Guatemala Profile” by USAID – the

United States Agency for International Development – regarding gangs operating in

1 The study performed by DFACS was introduced at the hearing held July 6, 2011.

3 El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.2 At the end of the

hearing, the court stated on the record that it was taking custody of the child on an

emergency basis. No written order reflecting this ruling is in the record, but it is noted

in the July 6 order.

On July 6, one week later, the court held the final hearing, at which, as in the

emergency hearing, there was no opposing party. At this hearing, Xivir testified that

his brother (who is not married) was born in Guatemala on October 12, 1995, and that

in Guatemala, his brother lived with their parents in a two-bedroom home with

electricity and shared a bedroom with other family members. Xivir testified that he,

too, was born in Guatemala and that he came to the United States at age 14 because,

beginning at age 13, his life was in danger because gangs involved with drug

trafficking, violence and murder had “taken over” and were recruiting young boys,

2 The “Gangs in Guatemala” fact sheet states that 80% of gang members in Guatemala belong to Mara Salvatrucha (also known as MS-13) and that “[g]ang members are involved in robbery, extortion, drug dealing, human trafficking, and turf wars with rival gangs.” The “Guatemala Profile” states that gangs have become “public enemy number one” in Guatemala, that the youth of Guatemala are affected because children as young as eight years old are recruited , that “young men are both more likely to be victims of gang violence, as well as perpetrators”; that “large numbers of youth desperately in need of income turn to gangs to fill the economic void”; and that “[t]he judicial system currently does not have the capacity to deal with gang violence.”

4 including him. Xivir was unable to obtain help because the Guatemalan police were

corrupt and his parents were not helpful because “my father most of the time was

drunk and my mother spoke only a language that is called Quiche.” He added that his

father never cared for him, rather, his mother did. He is equally fearful that his brother

would face the same dangers he did in Guatemala. Xivir testified that he did not know

his brother was coming until he received a call from immigration. And Xivir averred

that he is able to provide food, medical care, and clothing for his brother and that his

brother is enrolled in high school and doing well.

J. J. X. C. testified that although his parents do work (in farming), they were not

able to provide for their large family. He testified he came to the United States

because, starting when he was 14 years old, members of the MS-13 gang, who kill,

steal, and sell drugs, were pressuring him to join and to engage in those activities. He

testified that initiation in the gang involved being beaten by 10 or more other boys and

that he would be in fear for his life if he told them he would not join. J. J. X. C. told

his father, but when his father tried to do something about it, “the police didn’t do

anything.” He added that his father was always drunk when he came home from work

and did not care for him. Although his mother cared for him, she did not have the

power to stop his father from drinking or to protect him from the gangs, in part

5 because she spoke an indigenous language, not Spanish. J. J. X. C. left Guatemala

without telling his parents because he did not want a life of violence, he wanted to

continue his studying, and his family did not have other contacts or means to move to

another location. He believes that leaving Guatemala was his only option and that if

forced to return, the gangs would contact him again and his family would not be able

to protect him. J. J. X. C. concluded his testimony by stating that he wanted to live in

the United States with his brother and family so that he could “study, graduate and go

to the university.”

The petitioners filed notarized statements in Spanish from the child’s parents,

along with notarized English translations, which state that the parents are unable to

provide completely for their children; that they do not have the means to provide

enough food, appropriate medical care, or other support that the child needs; and that

it would be in the best interest of the child to be with his brother and family. The

mother signed with a fingerprint.

In a written order, the court found that clear and convincing evidence had been

presented to show that the child was deprived and dependent upon the court because

“the child is within the borders of Georgia and without proper and adequate care and

supervision from a biological parent or legal guardian.” The court also found that the

6 child fled Guatemala because gangs were threatening him and trying to recruit him

and he was afraid for his life and safety; that the parents had refused reunification; that

family reunification was not a viable option; that the child cannot care for himself; and

that it would be in the child’s best interest to remain in his current placement with the

petitioners as his guardians.

The appellants do not challenge the court’s affirmative findings. The court’s

order is silent, however, with regard to the requested findings regarding the child’s

immigration status, and the appellants contend the court erred by failing to make those

findings. At oral argument on appeal, the appellants stated that the child is currently

the subject of removal proceedings.

Federal law provides a path to lawful permanent residency in the United States

to resident alien children who qualify for “special immigrant juvenile” (SIJ) status. 8

USC § 1101 (a) (27) (J); 8 CFR § 204.11. “Congress created SIJ classification to

protect abused, neglected, and abandoned immigrant youth through a process allowing

them to become legal permanent residents.” Perez-Olano v. Gonzalez, 248 FRD 248,

265 (III) (A) (1) (a) (CD Ca. 2008); see also Yeboah v. United States Dept. of Justice,

345 F3d 216, 221 (III) (A) (3rd Cir. 2003) (“an alternative to deportation”).

7 To be eligible to petition the federal government for SIJ status, the resident

alien must be under age 21 and unmarried. 8 CFR § 204.11 (c). The child must have

been declared dependent upon a state juvenile court. 8 USC § 1101 (a) (27) (J). And

the juvenile court must have made two additional findings: (1) that “reunification with

1 or both of the immigrant’s parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, abandonment,

or a similar basis found under State law”; and (2) that “it would not be in the alien’s

best interest to be returned to the alien’s or parent’s previous country of nationality

or country of last habitual residence.” Id. at (i), (ii). See also 8 CFR § 204.11. The

language of the first finding is designed to “prevent youths from using this remedy for

the purpose of obtaining legal permanent resident status, rather than for the purpose

of obtaining relief from abuse or neglect [or abandonment].” (Puntuation omitted.) In

re: Erick M., 284 Neb. 340, 347 (820 NW2d 639) (Neb. 2012), quoting 3 Charles

Gordon et al., Immigration Law and Procedure § 35.09 (1) at 35-36 (rev. ed. 2001),

citing H.R. Rep. No. 105-405 (1997) (Conf. Rep.).3 See also Yeboah, 345 F3d at 222

3 The Conference Report states that in 1997, the language of the statute was “modified in order to limit the beneficiaries of this provision to those juveniles for whom it was created, namely abandoned, neglected, or abused children, by requiring the Attorney General [now the Secretary of Homeland Security] to determine that neither the dependency order nor the administrative or judicial determination of the alien’s best interest was sought primarily for the purpose of obtaining the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, rather than for the purpose of obtaining relief from abuse or neglect.” (Emphasis supplied.) H.R. Rep. No. 105-405, at 130 (1997). See also Pub 110-457 (2008).

8 (III) (A). Although the juvenile court determines whether the evidence supports the

findings, the final decision regarding SIJ status rests with the federal government, and,

as shown, the child must apply to that authority. 8 USC § 1101 (a) (27) (J) (iii); Perez-

Olano, 248 FRD at 265, n. 11.

Thus, the juvenile court 4 is charged with making the factual inquiry relevant to

SIJ status when an unmarried, resident alien child is found to be dependent on the

court. “The SIJ statute affirms the institutional competence of state courts as the

appropriate forum for child welfare determinations regarding abuse, neglect, or

abandonment, and a child’s best interests.” Perez-Olano, 248 FRD at 265 (III) (A) (1)

(a). Accordingly, courts in other states have held that a juvenile court errs by failing

to consider a request for SIJ findings. See In re Y. M., 207 Cal. App. 4th 892, 916 (II)

(B) (144 Cal.Rptr.3d 54) (Cal.App. 2012) (child who is “potentially eligible for SIJ

4 The applicable statute states that the determination of whether it would not be in the alien’s best interest to be returned must be made in “administrative or judicial proceedings.” 8 U. S. C. A. § 1101 (a) (27) (J) (ii). See also 8 CFR 204.11 (a) (c) (6) (“judicial proceedings or administrative proceedings authorized or recognized by the juvenile court.”). But the final rule issued in 1993 by the then-Immigration and Naturalization Service makes clear that the references to administrative proceedings do not mean proceedings before a federal agency. 58 FR 42843, 42847. As stated in the final rule in 1993, “Such administrative proceedings would most commonly be conducted by state or local social service agency officials. The Service does not intend to make determinations in the course of deportation proceedings regarding the ‘best interest’ of the child for the purpose of establishing eligibility for special immigrant juvenile classification.” (Emphasis supplied.) Id.

9 status, . . . was entitled to a hearing where the juvenile court would determine whether

findings required for SIJ status existed”) (citation omitted). See also In re Mohamed

B., 83 A.D.3d 829, 831 (921 NYS2d 145) (NYAD 2011) (child moved for SIJ

findings during guardianship proceeding in family court); In the Interest of Luis G.,

17 Neb. App. 377, 379 (764 NW2d 648) (Neb. App. 2009) (motions regarding SIJ

status filed during juvenile cases addressing guardianship and foster care).

Here, however, the trial court’s otherwise detailed written order is silent

regarding any decision on the SIJ factors. See OCGA § 15-11-54 (a) (“on any petition

alleging deprivation, the court shall make and file its findings as to whether the child

is a deprived child”). It is apparent that the court started with an order drafted by the

petitioners and that the court struck all provisions relevant to SIJ status, including the

proposed findings. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether, in so doing, the court simply

chose not to address the issue or concluded that it was not authorized to or was

otherwise refusing to make the findings. The court did not state a basis for declining

to make the SIJ findings nor did it state that it had considered the SIJ findings and

rejected them. See, e.g., Erick M., 284 Neb. at 351-352 (Neb. 2012) (juvenile court

found that facts failed to show reunification with parent was not viable because of

abuse, neglect, or abandonment).

10 Although the court was authorized to conclude that the petitioners failed to

present evidence to support the SIJ factors or that their evidence was not credible, the

court had a duty to consider the SIJ factors and make findings. In this unusual setting,

where a state juvenile court is charged with addressing an issue relevant only to

federal immigration law, we cannot affirm without some positive indication that the

court actually addressed the issue. Our review of the juvenile court’s decision is

impaired by the lack of findings, and the child’s immigration status hangs in the

balance. See, e.g., In the Interest of Luis G., 17 Neb. App. at 385 (“[W]ithout the order

of eligibility, including the required findings from the state court, [applicants] would

be barred from proceeding in the federal system with a valid application for special

immigrant juvenile status and would face deportation to Guatemala.”). Accordingly,

we affirm the trial court’s finding of deprivation but remand the case to the juvenile

court with instruction to consider the request for SIJ findings in light of the facts and

relevant law and to make relevant findings.

Judgment affirmed in part and case remanded with direction. Miller, P. J., and

Ray, J., concur.