Abused and neglected youths granted immigration protections are being detained and deported
Youth with Immigration Protections Face Detention and Deportation Amid Policy Shifts
Young immigrants who endured abuse or neglect in their home countries were given a pathway to legal residency via the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) program. However, under the Trump administration, many of these youth were subsequently detained and deported.
Between January 20 and December 22 of the previous year, ICE detained 265 and deported 132 minors under SIJS, as reported in a letter from the Department of Homeland Security to Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., obtained exclusively by NBC News.
“The stability they had built on their journey toward permanent residency was abruptly disrupted,” she said, emphasizing the impact of these actions.
Established in 1990, the SIJS program was designed to safeguard minors who had experienced abuse, abandonment, or neglect in their countries of origin, offering them a route to legal residency through green cards. Eligibility requires individuals to be under 21 when applying.
Due to delays in green card processing, a deferred action policy shielded these youths from deportation and allowed them to work legally while awaiting resolution of their visa backlog. That policy, however, was terminated in June of that year by the Trump administration, though it remains suspended as it undergoes judicial review.
The Department of Homeland Security asserted in a statement to NBC News that SIJS ‘does not grant lawful status,’ claiming the program was compromised by fraud and misuse during the Biden administration.
“We have specifically targeted them because they are fleeing dangerous conditions in their home countries,” Senator Cortez Masto explained, noting the intent to protect their well-being.
Emma Israel, a senior policy analyst at Kids in Need of Defense, expressed surprise at the deportation figures, stating they were “much higher than we anticipated.” According to DHS, the 132 individuals deported were cited for immigration violations, including being in the country without proper entry or visa status. Federal records did not specify if any had criminal records.
Elias’ Story
Elias arrived in the U.S. alone at age 14 in 2023 following ‘severe physical and emotional abuse and neglect’ by his mother, as detailed in court filings seeking his repatriation. He was released from immigration custody and placed with his father and relatives in Louisiana.
“The physical abuse he endured was so extreme that he required hospitalization for his injuries,” the complaint stated. “Elias also faced constant neglect, often being left unattended for days or weeks without food. His home became a source of fear and danger due to his mother and her partner’s behavior.”
In April of the previous year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services abruptly ended Elias’ deferred action without prior notice or an opportunity to respond, according to the complaint. A month later, his father was briefly detained by ICE and instructed to return to Guatemala with his children in May. On May 21, 2025, Elias was deported to Guatemala without a formal removal order, after being held in a hotel room in Alexandria, Louisiana, for about 12 hours.
“ICE’s actions were a clear violation of federal law and Elias’ constitutional rights,” a statement from the National Immigration Project noted, which advocates for noncitizens.
DHS maintained that Elias was “not illegally removed,” asserting the father and son received full due process and were ordered deported by an immigration judge. The father chose to accompany his son in the deportation. Elias’ lawsuit is still active, while other minors continue to face similar risks under ICE’s current enforcement efforts.
