USCIS REPORT: Special Immigrant Juvenile program allowed thousands of criminals, gang members to stay in U.S.
07/30/2025 / By Laura Harris
A USCIS report reveals that the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) program, originally intended to protect abused and abandoned minors, has been exploited by thousands of ineligible applicants, including gang members and violent criminals.
Between 2013 and early 2025, nearly 19,000 SIJ applicants had criminal records, including murder charges and gang affiliations. Over 500 MS-13 members were approved, with many later indicted for federal crimes.
Many applicants used false identities, ages or abuse claims to qualify. State courts were criticized for approving dependency findings without proper documentation or verification.
As of June 6, USCIS has ended its policy of granting automatic deferred action and work authorization to SIJ petitioners who cannot immediately adjust status due to visa unavailability.
The policy change aims to align with national security priorities and restore the SIJ program’s original purpose of aiding genuinely vulnerable youth, with further reforms under consideration by the Trump administration.
https://invasionusa.news/2025-07-30-sij-program-allowed-criminals-gang-members-in-us.html
