Velasquez, L. v. Miranda, L.

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: November 27, 2023
• Docket: 454 MAL 2023 (Granted)
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA MIDDLE DISTRICT

LICELY JUAREZ VELASQUEZ, : No. 454 MAL 2023 : Petitioner : : Petition for Allowance of Appeal : from the Order of the Superior Court v. : : : LIZARDO MARROQUIN MIRANDA, : : Respondent :

ORDER

PER CURIAM

AND NOW, this 27th day of November, 2023, the Petition for Allowance of Appeal

is GRANTED. The issues, rephrased for clarity, are:

(1) Whether the Superior Court, when it determined the Children are not statutorily eligible for special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS) under federal law, misapprehended the role and authority of Pennsylvania courts when such determinations are within the exclusive authority and jurisdiction of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

(2) Whether the Superior Court erred in concluding the Children are not statutorily eligible for SIJS notwithstanding the fact the trial court awarded sole custody to Mother.

(3) Whether the trial court erred in holding Mother failed to meet her burden to prove the predicate findings for SIJS: a) Children’s reunification with Father is not viable due to abandonment, abuse, neglect, or a similar basis under Pennsylvania law; and b) it is not in the Children’s best interest to return to Guatemala.