The Daily Journal interviewed Manatt’s Sirena Castillo, a partner in the firm’s litigation practice, on a Manatt pro bono team’s victory in aiding abused and neglected immigrant minors. The team’s victory resulted in government prevention of any removal proceedings against the individuals.
The publication noted that the case involved four children from New Zealand, Mexico and Honduras, who claimed that they were abused or abandoned by their families. U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins issued a preliminary injunction against a federal modification that would have made it more difficult for particular minors to get immigration papers and legal protection.
“They’re saying that the probate court doesn’t have the ability to reunify the minor with their parents, and it’s not a court that can make the SIJ [Special Immigrant Juvenile Status] findings. It’s just not anywhere in the SIJ statute that the court has to have this ability,” said Castillo.
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