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FAMILY COURT SHOULD HAVE MADE THE FINDING THAT PETITIONER’S REUNIFICATION WITH HER FATHER IN THE IVORY COAST WAS NOT VIABLE TO ENABLE HER TO APPLY FOR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS (SIJS) AND REMAIN IN THE US (SECOND DEPT).

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Family Court, determined Family Court should have found reunification with petitioner’s father in the Ivory Coast was not viable. Petitioner, 16 years old, sought findings from Family Court which would allow her to apply for special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS) and remain in the United States:

Family Court erred in not making any findings of fact as to reunification with petitioner’s father. Exercising our power to review the record and to make our own factual determinations … , we find that the record supports a finding that reunification of petitioner with her father, respondent Lassina D., is not viable due to neglect within the meaning of Family Court Act § 1012 (f)(i) (A)—(B). Petitioner’s testimony shows that the father did not meet the minimal degree of care since he did not provide for her medical and emotional needs while she was in the Ivory Coast, and has not contributed to her financial support or maintained regular contact with her since she has been in the United States …  Her uncontroverted testimony also supports a finding of neglect based on the father’s excessive use of corporal punishment … .Matter of Sara D. v Lassina D., 2022 NY Slip Op 04119, First Dept 6-28-22

Practice Point: Family Court can be petitioned to make findings which will allow a juvenile to apply for special immigrant juvenile status in order to avoid deportation to the juvenile’s home country. Here the court was asked to make findings that reunification with the petitioner’s parents is not viable. The First Department found that father had neglected petitioner and she therefore could not be returned to his care.

 

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