This is our 52nd and final success story that we’re sharing for 2025! Each week, we’ve been sharing a top story to uplift and encourage you. We hope you’ll enjoy this last one and cannot wait to share more success with you in 2026!
Here we go…
Can you imagine being a child with no safe way to return home — and no clear path to stay where you’re protected?
Our client came to McBean Law in April 2025 seeking stability for her minor daughter. The child was abandoned by her father and had no safe return option to Jamaica.
From the start, we knew this case required more than just paperwork.
It required a legal strategy that combined Family Court proceedings with the specific findings needed to pursue Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ).
SIJ provides life-changing protection for vulnerable children with a path toward lawful permanent residence.
We had to secure Family Court jurisdiction and obtain a Special Findings Predicate Order, which is required for SIJ.
We appeared at a virtual custody hearing, where a court referee conducted the hearing and inquest.
The child’s father, who resides in Jamaica, was properly served with notice of the proceedings but failed to appear.
Based on the mother’s credible testimony, the father’s nonappearance, and the evidence submitted, the court granted the mother sole legal and physical custody of her daughter.
The Family Court also issued the Special Findings Order, concluding that the child was abandoned and neglected by her father, that reunification with the father is not viable, and that it is not in the child’s best interest to return to Jamaica.
With the court’s order, the child now meets the core requirements for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
If your family is trying to protect a child who has been abandoned, abused, or neglected, McBean Law can help you understand your options and build a strategy.
Call us at (914) 898-9488 to schedule a private consultation.
P.S. Every case is different. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Always consult with a licensed immigration attorney about your specific situation.
