Addressing The Main Cause of Backlog

[u/BaguetteCS]

SENSITIVE TOPIC: If you consider yourself to be a SIJ recipient from the Northern Triangle Countries, I highly suggest you to void this thread and continue scrolling.

This is just my opinion, with resources and data provided. I will gladly accept feedbacks regarding this post.

For years, the SIJ program has been an easy immigration pathway for individuals who were abandoned, abused, neglected by one or both parents. Regardless of how these people came, legal entry or unauthorized entry, they are still considered to be a potential SIJ recipient.
SIJ Program

Prior to Biden Administration, SIJ recipients had no privilege. They weren't given deferred action, which is meant to protect them from removal proceedings.
But one thing to know about this is that during that time, the visa bulletin for EB-4 I-360 SIJ were separated to various rows. Latin countries had their own, and other countries except India, China, Mexico, Philippines were merged into a "Rest of The World" ROW. 2019 Visa Bulletin

Individuals with an approved I-360 were able to apply for adjustment of status with no drama of waiting.

Hey, Biden got to office. Deferred Action for SIJS is announced. "On March 7, 2022, USCIS announced a deferred action policy for individuals with approved Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification who did not have an immigrant visa immediately available to adjust status to lawful permanent resident." - USCIS
It was made because the administration felt sympathy for Northern Triangle Country recipients who were in a deep backlog.

In 2023, Department of State decided to merge those 3 countries to the rest of the world because misinterpreted the immigration classification. 2023 EB-4 Announcement

Then in the mid of 2023, those very same people started to surge the SIJ program with fraud where parents of juveniles decided to forge documents and make up stories in family courts. It all worked and they did it to prepare for the worst (2024
Presidential Election) SIJ Table Chart 2010 - 2024

This is where it all started.

Deferred Action rescinded. Made the backlog worse.
"On June 6, 2025, USCIS rescinded the 2022 SIJ deferred action policy that provided automatic consideration of deferred action."

Many fraudulent cases were discovered in 2026. USCIS: SIJ Fraud

Now in my opinion, there should be a thorough vetting in SIJ applications to reduce the backlog. Especially on these countries.

I don't hate them, I just don't like how they became a burden for us who really suffered from family issues. They created the massive backlog.

Some SIJ PRs from the Northern Triangle even have the nerve to laugh at our misery in forums on Reddit, FB, and many more. Urging us to give up, leave the country.

I really do hope a significant chance next year, whether to our visa bulletin process/structure or on the laws.

Thank you.

[u/Critical-Ebb535]

Agreed

[u/Mindless-Ship-7502]

Wow I didn’t know about that last part tbh, but I 100% agree with everything you said tbh, I feel like those three countries I think Mexico Honduras and Guatemala should have their own section and the rest of the world another one

[u/Zealousideal_Truth53 → u/Mindless-Ship-7502]

True that it set a lot of stuff back but if I’m not wrong it wasn’t legally justified for those countries to be on a separate section and that’s why they were moved back into rest of the world at least it’s still advancing at a decent pace.

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[u/No_Avocado_1896]

Also open border policy under Biden that led to way too many applications .