N.Y.C. Admin. Code § L.L. 2010/006: L.L. 2010/006

Enactment date: 4/14/2010

Int. No. 3-A

By Council Members Dromm, Cabrera, Arroyo, Jackson, Barron, Brewer, Dickens, Eugene, Ferreras, Fidler, Foster, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, Koslowitz, Lander, Lappin, Mark-Viverito, Mealy, Palma, Seabrook, Vann, Williams, Nelson, Rodriguez, Van Bramer, Sanders Jr., Chin, Mendez and White

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the Administration for Children's Services to review strategies and create a plan of action to protect children who qualify for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is available for undocumented children involved in the child welfare system. SIJS is a statutory provision included in the Federal Immigration Act of 1990, which, if applied for in a timely manner, enables certain undocumented young people to become permanent residents and to obtain green cards. SIJS presents the opportunity for immigrant children to live in the United States and take advantage of the various opportunities available to lawful United States residents. Based on information provided to the Council by the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) as well as immigration and child welfare advocates, ACS could improve its procedures for serving the population of undocumented immigrant children that are under its care.

The Council finds that it is necessary for ACS to ensure that immigration relief is a factor in permanency planning for non-citizen youth. The Council further finds that, although ACS has made great strides to address the immigration needs of children in its care, there is a need for additional information, knowledge, resources, technical assistance and support to be provided to contract service providers in the area of immigration benefits for their clients. The Council finds that the creation of a new plan within ACS is necessary in order to create an accurate and efficient identification and tracking system in order to coordinate immigration services so that ACS can meet its obligation to protect immigrant children in the child welfare system. This will help ensure that all SIJS-eligible children have the opportunities that they deserve.

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[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]

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§ 3. This local law shall take effect 90 days after its enactment into law and will sunset in 2015.