UMVA has learned that a shocking abuse of a program designed to protect vulnerable minors has been uncovered, revealing that thousands of illegal aliens, including sex offenders, murderers, and members of brutal gangs, have exploited the system to gain entry into the United States.
The Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) program, meant to offer a safe haven to children of illegal immigrants who have been victims of abuse, neglect, or abandonment, has been infiltrated by some of the most heinous criminals, according to information obtained by UMVA. Recipients of the program are offered legal permanent resident status and eventual naturalization.
An investigation has uncovered more than a decade's worth of abuse of the program from fiscal years 2013 through 2025, with at least 120 illegal alien entrants having arrest records for murder, 200 approved SIJ petitioners convicted of sex offenses, and over 500 known or suspected members of the notorious Salvadoran street gang MS-13.
High-profile cases of SIJ abuse by criminals include a New York MS-13 leader who pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in connection to eight murders, and an illegal alien entrant with a long history of gang activity in Massachusetts who allegedly participated in a drive-by shooting that killed two and wounded five others.
Four MS-13 gang members in Virginia who were approved for the SIJ program were indicted for racketeering in 2023 and 2024 for their alleged participation in multiple murders, including the killing of a 19-year-old woman who was allegedly slain for insulting the gang on social media.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that experts warn of a lack of guardrails to ensure SIJ applicants are actually facing dire circumstances, with the program relying on state judges to determine eligibility under federal law. This has led to widespread abuse and exploitation by those who do not meet the program's intended criteria.
A leading expert on immigration issues has stated that the program rarely functions as intended, with many people mistakenly believing that beneficiaries are children without responsible parents. In reality, representatives of applicants, often attorneys, can present an affidavit swearing on behalf of the petitioner that they face dire circumstances.
The system can be gamed, with little to no verification of the petitioner's claims, and experts are calling for Congress to tighten up the law on eligibility criteria, including checking if the petitioner suffered trauma from abuse and has no opportunity to return to their home country.
DHS officials have also expressed concerns, stating that state courts often approve petitions without knowing who is being granted SIJ status or even having a hearing to find out, allowing criminals, gang members, and even suspected terrorists to obtain lawful status.
