PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference

Crossing Borders: Crossing Borders: Immigration Issues In Immigration Issues In

The Child Welfare The Child Welfare SystemSystem

Presented By: Benjamin Drinen, Esq.

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Deportation Numbers

• 2011 – 400,000 Immigrants Deported

• January 1, 2011-June 1, 2011 – 46,000 Parents Of Citizen Children Deported

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Impact On Child Welfare System• 1 in 5 American children have at

least one immigrant parent

• Over 90% of these children are U.S. citizens

• 10% of children involved with the child welfare system have one immigrant parent

• Higher rates of congregatecare placement and APPLA

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Obstacles

• Fear of authorities

• Language

• Cultural Differences

• Limited services, benefits

• Legal Standards

• Casework across borders

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Fear of Authority

• Deportation

• Build Trust

• Back-up Plans

• Child - Centered

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Language - Interviews

• Picking translators

• Non-verbal cues

• Addressing fear

• Confidentiality

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Language - Putting it in Writing

• Difficulty Of Identification

• Translating Documents – Federally Mandated

• Literacy

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Language – Court Translation

• AOPC Translators

• Before, After, During

• Accuracy

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Cultural Issues

• Educational values

• Discipline

• Parent-Child roles

• Child care

• Health care

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Limited Supports and Benefits• See Handout 1

• Check reporting requirements before referring

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Conflicting Standards

• Dependency Court – Best Interests Controls

• Immigration Court – Best Interests Irrelevant

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Unaccompanied Teens

• Trauma – Past And Present

• Trafficking

• Trust

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Preparing the Placement

• Diet

• Religion

• Language

• Rules

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Casework Across Borders

• Contacting consulates

• Contacting agencies

• Assessing safety

• Overcoming bias

• Child’s wishes

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International Searches

• Foreign Consulates in the U.S.

• U.S. Embassies Abroad

• Local Networks

• Internet Searches

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Using Technology

• Investigation

• Testimony

• Visitation

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Confidentiality

• Vienna Convention of Consular Relations

• Dual Citizenship

• Due Process

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Improving the System

• Build local networks

• Improve practices

• Learn from others

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Permanency Planning

1) Read Case Scenario – Handout 4

2) Discuss Questions

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Maria’s Story

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Paths to Legal Residency

SIJS – Dependency

VAWA – Domestic Violence

T Visa - Trafficking

U Visa – Crime Victims

Asylum – Torture

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How Child Welfare Professionals Can Help With Residency• Lawyer Referral

• Information Sharing

• SIJS Findings

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Citizenship and Adoption

Adoption can be a path to citizenship if:

1)Adoption is finalized before age 16

2)Child in adoptive parent’s care for 2 years before age 18

3)Adoptive parent is citizen

4) Child becomes legal resident

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For Further Information:

Benjamin Drinen, Esq.Diakon/FDR

bdrinen@diakon-swan.org