CILA, in partnership with Orlando Center for Justice (OCJ), is very pleased to share this new manual for practitioners in Florida seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). This manual is intended for practitioners in the field and pro bono attorneys working on behalf of immigrant youth. This resource provides a comprehensive step-by-step overview of how to obtain an order in Florida state court with SIJS determinations. It includes an overview of the applicable state and federal laws, guidance on the procedural requirements, and practice tips. CILA is grateful for OCJ’s collaboration on this resource. CILA and OCJ also sought input from local practitioners when drafting this manual and are grateful for their support.
The manual is over 120 pages and broken down into subsections that walk through the process of obtaining an order with SIJS determinations in Florida state court. Specific topics covered include, among other things, an overview of the types of courts where SIJS relief may be sought, service of process, how to file and draft documents for proceedings in Florida state court, and what to expect at hearings in Florida state court. The Appendix contains extensive tools and samples practitioners to refer to. The manual also contains links to additional resources and relevant laws.
This resource is the second in what CILA hopes to be an ongoing series of manuals covering SIJS state court practice in select states. CILA published the first, “Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Manual for Texas Practitioners,” in May 2023. CILA intends to continue partnering with organizations in other states to develop these manuals. Hopefully this “Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Manual for Florida Practitioners” and any future state practice manuals will help anyone assisting youth with obtaining SIJS relief.
This resource is available on CILA’s website on the Additional Resources webpage. If you do not have the password, please reach out to us at cila@abacila.org.