The information in this blog post is current as of March 31, 2026.
CILA is excited to share an update to the in-depth resource Procedural Options in Removal Proceedings for Youth. The resource is available to those with a CILA account.
Attorneys working with immigrant children must often analyze how best to manage immigration court cases because of pending state court actions or petitions before USCIS. This in-depth resource offers key information for advocates as they consider various procedural tools in immigration court including prosecutorial discretion, continuances, status dockets, administrative closure, dismissal, and termination. The resource includes helpful charts, links to key authorities, and additional resources to help practitioners. CILA hopes this resource will help attorneys working with immigrant children including pro bono attorneys as they consider each case and determine how best to proceed.
CILA last updated this resource in December 2024. Since that time, there have been many changes in immigration law and policy including changes in the approach to prosecutorial discretion and several recent Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) decisions impacting procedural options in removal proceedings. The updated resource now includes information to reflect these changes and others, as well as links to additional resources for further study by practitioners.
Contact CILA at cila@abacila.org if you need additional assistance accessing this resource.