Young immigrants can face significant challenges, particularly those in the United States, without a parent who is able or willing to support them. For teenage immigrants without parents, the transition to adulthood and self-sufficiency can be daunting.
Children and Youth Law Clinic intern 3L Nelly Cabrera said, "the hurdles experienced by my immigrant clients hit home because I am the child of immigrant parents and I have seen struggles with immigration issues first-hand."
Cabrera worked with one young immigrant, Javier, who found himself dealing with a work restriction on his social security card. Despite being a legal permanent resident and being able to work in the U.S. legally, his social security card labeled him as ineligible to work. Arriving in the United States with his father, Javier's life took an unexpected turn when his father suddenly abandoned him. He entered the foster care system and eventually aged out at age 18.
At that point, Javier entered what is known as Extended Foster Care, a program established by the legislature to provide ongoing housing and other support for young adults aging out of foster care. The purpose of EFC is to help teenagers develop the skills needed to become independent and eventually live on their own. The work restrictions on Javier's social security card prevented him from being able to develop those skills fully.
As his CYLC intern, Cabrera advocated in juvenile court and before the administrative foster care agency to ensure that all of Javier's needs were being met. "We saw Javier's potential and understood that lifting these work restrictions was essential for him to become self-sufficient," she said.
Javier's aspiration was simple yet profound—to contribute to society and establish himself within the U.S. so that he, in turn, could help his family escape the political instability in Cuba. The work restriction presented a significant barrier to fulfilling those goals.
"The significance of removing these work restrictions cannot be overstated," said Cabrera. "It is about granting young immigrants the opportunity to work hard to support themselves. But the process to get the restrictions removed is a bureaucratic process that would be hard for many people, let alone a teenager, to navigate on their own."
Applicants must complete paperwork and produce documents that prove their identity and immigration status. Even getting access to the required identity documents can be a hurdle for immigrants or children in foster care. Cabrera's CYLC partner, 3L Jayci Eskalyo, encountered similar challenges when assisting other clients in obtaining their LPR replacement cards, foreign passports, and government-issued IDs.
Cabrera's role was instrumental in researching the relevant legal rules and guiding Javier through the bureaucratic maze, including accompanying him to the local Social Security Office, where she advocated for removing the work restriction. Ultimately, the Social Security Administration released the work restriction, and Javier received his new Social Security Card, which allowed him to start applying for jobs.
This was a seemingly small but very consequential part of Cabrera's more general advocacy to equip Javier to transition to adulthood successfully.
She also collaborated with his attorney from Americans for Immigrant Justice to support Javier's application for United States citizenship.
"Seeing Javier's determination and his desire for a brighter future fueled my commitment to helping him," said Cabrera.
Read more about Miami Law’s Children and Youth Law Clinic.
