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Immigrant Juvenile Attorneys in Fort Worth
Book A Free Consultation now
Book A Free Consultation now
Proudly Serving Dallas & Houston.
Families in North Texas face a difficult reality when a child has suffered mistreatment or separation and is also navigating immigration proceedings. The process feels overwhelming because multiple systems converge at once: Texas family courts, federal immigration rules, detention and custody issues, and the stress of proving what a child has endured. As Immigrant Juvenile Attorneys in Fort Worth, we help you connect all the pieces so your child is protected at each step.
At Andrew T. Thomas, Attorneys at Law, we guide families through complex immigration matters with compassion and precision. When it comes to the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, we are committed to explain what the Texas state court must find, how to gather the right documents, and how to present a compelling case so your child can move toward safety and stability in the United States.
Serving Fort Worth and North Texas, we build individualized strategies for immigrant juveniles and their caregivers, and we work tirelessly to keep families together. If your child needs protection under SIJS, guidance through asylum, or relief as a crime victim, we’re here to help. Contact us for a confidential consultation.
SIJS is a humanitarian immigration classification for children who cannot reunify with one or both parents due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, or similar grounds under state law. It offers a pathway to lawful permanent residence, and it is specifically designed to protect vulnerable juveniles from unsafe family and return conditions.
Brief History and Purpose
Congress created SIJS to fill a gap in immigration law for children who lack safe parental care. Over time, SIJS has become an essential protection for unaccompanied children and youth who arrive in the United States seeking safety. It is a lifeline for children in our community who need stability, education, and the chance to rebuild.
Why SIJS Matters in Fort Worth
We see many children in North Texas who fled violence, family separation, or severe mistreatment. SIJS allows them to focus on healing and growth while moving toward legal status. Our Special Immigrant Juvenile Attorneys are committed to supporting families through each stage of the SIJS proceedings.
Here are the primary eligibility requirements:
Age and marital status: The child must be under 21 and unmarried at filing.
Location: They must be physically present in the United States. They cannot apply for Special Immigration Juvenile status from outside the country.
Juvenile court findings: A Texas juvenile or family court must issue findings that the child is dependent on the court or placed in the custody of a state agency or court-appointed individual. These findings are often referred to as the “predicate order”, which we explain further below.
Non-viability of reunification: The court must determine the child cannot reunify with one or both parents because of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a similar basis under Texas law.
Best interest determination: The court must find it is not in the child’s best interest to return to their home country.
We help you document each element with care. We help collect school records, medical reports, psychological evaluations, affidavits, and other evidence that support the court’s findings and the child’s immigration petition.
The Texas State Court Predicate Order is the foundation of an SIJS case. Without it, USCIS will not approve a Special Immigrant Juvenile petition.
The predicate order is a juvenile or family court order that includes findings on dependency or custody, the reasons reunification with a parent is not possible (abuse, neglect, abandonment, or similar grounds), and why remaining in the United States is in the child’s best interest.
These state court findings align with federal SIJS requirements. They allow a child to petition for SIJS without relying on an unfit or absent parent.
Our team prepares and files the appropriate pleadings in Texas court, coordinate with social services and child advocates, assemble a precise evidentiary record, and prepare the child and caregivers for hearings. After the judge signs the predicate order, we prepare the SIJS petition (Form I-360) for USCIS and coordinate the next steps.
When SIJS is not best or only option, we assess every form of relief that may safeguard a young person. We pursue a strategy that places the child’s safety first and preserves long-term options.
A child who has been the victim of a qualifying crime and has cooperated or is willing to cooperate with law enforcement may qualify for a U visa. This relief can provide protection from removal and work authorization, and it can lead to permanent residence.
Our U visa practice includes gathering law enforcement certifications, assembling evidence of harm, and preparing a strong narrative that honors the child’s experience.
Asylum may be available when a child has suffered persecution or fears future persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. We gather country conditions, expert reports, and detailed declarations to show why protection is warranted under U.S. law.
Unaccompanied children are often placed under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). We work with ORR case managers and caregivers to ensure safe placement, educational access, health care, and family reunification when appropriate.
Throughout placement, we evaluate SIJS, asylum, or victim-based relief so your child’s legal options stay on track.
Our experienced attorneys align these relief options with your child’s unique history and needs. The ultimate goal is a stable, lawful path forward that protects the child today and strengthens their future.
You should not have to navigate this process alone. As immigrant juvenile attorneys in Fort Worth, we bring legal skill and compassionate advocacy to every stage of your child’s case.
Navigating SIJS Petitions With Care and Precision
SIJS petitions require precise evidence and timing. We build your file around the state court predicate order, assemble the federal petition, and track every deadline. We also evaluate related filings that can support long-term goals, such as a family petition when appropriate.
Coordinating With Juvenile Courts on Your Behalf
We bridge the gap between Texas family courts and federal immigration agencies. Our experienced team prepares pleadings, coordinates hearings, and communicates with guardians ad litem, social workers, and service providers.
We make sure state court findings align with federal requirements so your child’s immigration case is strong from day one.
Protecting Your Child’s Rights Throughout the Process
Children deserve safety, privacy, and a fair opportunity to be heard. Our lawyers safeguard confidentiality, prepare young people for interviews or testimony with care, and advocate firmly against any attempt to rush or undermine a child’s case.
We also keep you informed at every step so you know what to expect and why each step matters.
A Strategy Tailored to Your Family
Every case is different. Some children need SIJS alone; others need asylum or victim-based relief. We listen, assess, and build a plan that reflects your child’s story. Our goal is the same as yours: a stable future built on lawful status and safety.
SIJS can open a lawful path for children who cannot safely reunify with a parent. Other reliefs, like U visas or asylum, may also apply depending on the facts. As Immigrant Juvenile Attorneys, we align these options with your child’s story and guide you through both Texas family courts and federal immigration processes.
We pair legal experience with genuine compassion. We take time to learn your needs, explain your options, and build a tailored plan that protects your child’s future. While no outcome is guaranteed, we bring relentless advocacy and a client-centered approach to every case we handle.
If you’re ready to talk, contact Andrew T. Thomas, Attorneys at Law. We will listen, answer your questions, and map a clear way forward.
Your family’s future matters, and we’re ready to stand with you step by step until your child has the safety and stability they deserve.
