• Despite long-standing reports of abuse, fraud, and gang infiltration, Congress continues to fund the Special Immigrant Juvenile Petition (SIJP) program, allowing thousands of illegal immigrants claiming to be minors to remain in the U.S. and gain a path to citizenship.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — Congress has maintained and expanded several programs permitting illegal border crossers—especially those claiming to be minors—to remain in the United States. Among the most controversial is the Special Immigrant Juvenile Petition (SIJP) program, originally created to protect abused and neglected foreign children. Yet according to a new federal report, the program has been widely exploited by criminal elements, including members of MS-13 and other violent gangs.

The SIJP, codified in 1990, was intended to help minors already entangled in state juvenile courts who cannot reunify with one or both parents due to abuse, abandonment, or neglect. However, the program contains no moral character requirement and fails to disqualify applicants with criminal records. This legal gap has been described by immigration experts as a “golden ticket” to citizenship for those with violent pasts.

According to a new report by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the SIJP program has become a loophole for foreign nationals involved in organized crime. Of over 300,000 applications filed between fiscal year 2013 and early 2025, nearly 19,000 applicants had criminal arrests—including 120 individuals charged with murder. The report is titled “Criminality, Gangs, and Program Integrity Concerns in Special Immigrant Juvenile Petitions.”

Gang Members Granted Path to Citizenship

Among the most troubling findings in the USCIS report is the number of known or suspected gang members whose SIJP applications were approved. Over 600 MS-13 affiliates applied—more than 500 were approved. Another 100 members of the 18th Street gang, as well as dozens linked to the Sureños, Norteños, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua criminal network, were likewise greenlit for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status.

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In several cases, applicants had already been charged with gang-related racketeering crimes or were listed in the National Sex Offender Registry. The report states at least 200 SIJP applicants were convicted sex offenders. Despite this, they were permitted to remain in the U.S. and in many cases, begin the process of becoming U.S. citizens.

Age Fraud and “Rubber-Stamped” Claims

The USCIS flagged widespread issues with identity and age fraud, often including falsified names, birth dates, and citizenship records. While the SIJP is supposed to serve minors, 52% of applicants approved between 2020 and 2024 were over the age of 18—legally adults.

Most applicants came from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, countries where cartels and gangs frequently coerce young boys into crime. Claims supporting SIJP applications were often thin: vague statements about poverty, missing parents, or unverified mistreatment. The report notes that many applications were “rubber-stamped” by state courts with little scrutiny.

“These aren’t isolated cases,” a senior USCIS official warned. “We’re seeing systemic patterns of abuse and manipulation that Congress has refused to address.”

Trump Administration Implements New Guardrails

In June 2025, President Trump issued new regulations curbing the program’s automatic benefits. The changes ended automatic deferred action and work permits for SIJP applicants who are ineligible for LPR status. The administration has signaled interest in further reforms, but the program remains active and federally funded.

Critics argue the SIJP program, like the broader Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) system, incentivizes illegal crossings by promising rewards to those who claim youth status. More than 300,000 children were flagged as high-risk cases under the UAC program; only a fraction were ever located, as DHS recently testified before Congress.

Congressional Inaction Amid Growing Concerns

Despite alarming reports, Congress has taken no formal steps to reform or defund the SIJP. In fact, both Republican and Democratic appropriators have continued to fund the program at levels approaching several billion dollars annually.

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“The SIJP was created with good intentions,” said one immigration watchdog. “But it has become a dangerous pipeline for fraud, gangs, and lawlessness.”

Should Congress suspend SIJP funding until criminal safeguards are implemented?

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