Ehrlich backs special immigrant status bill

LYNN – A special immigrant juveniles bill currently making its way through the state Legislature is not anything new, but it’s still raising concerns.”This bill has been under consideration for three years now,” said state Rep. Lori Ehrlich. “It is not a response to the current border crisis.”An email circulated among a handful of city officials earlier this week sparked concern that Ehrlich was backing an immigration bill despite the brouhaha in Lynn over the issue.But Ehrlich said that this legislation would not necessarily have an impact on the schools or services.The original law granting “special immigrant juvenile” status was signed in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush and reauthorized in 2008 by President George W. Bush, Ehrlich explained. The status allows people under age 21 who have been determined by a state or probate court to have been the victim of neglect, abandonment or abuse to apply for legal permanent resident status. Once the youth receive such a ruling from the court, then they can move on to the next step, which is applying for a green card, or permit allowing a foreign national to live and work permanently in the United States, Ehrlich explained.The problem is the state law doesn’t match the federal law. Ehrlich said under state law, the court can only rule on children under 18.”This is inconsistent with federal statute and means that people in that situation in Massachusetts don’t have the same rights under federal law as those in other states to do the right thing and apply for legal status,” she said. “This bill would rectify the discrepancy between state and federal law.”While some worry that it means there would be a new flood of immigrants, Ehrlich said that is not true for two reasons. First, this is a legal channel, and it doesn’t mean that an individual automatically receives a green card. It simply would allow them to petition the court for the right to apply for this status, Ehrlich explained. If they are granted the special juvenile status, the next step would be applying for a green card.Second, it will likely affect only 30 to 40 people per year, she said.The young adults most likely caught in this type of scenario are those who came here as children and were abandoned or were sent here as children to live with a relative after their parents abused or abandoned them, Ehrlich said.”These juveniles may not be aware of their immigration status until they turn 18 and attempt to apply for college or enter the labor force,” she said. “This is why federal law allows those up to 21 to apply for this status.”Probate and Family Court judges, along with members of the Massachusetts Bar Association, have written the Legislature in support of this bill, she added.”I support the bill because I would rather have people in this situation follow the legal channel available to them to become lawful, taxpaying residents of the United States, rather than continuing to live in the shadows,” Ehrlich said. “Though cities like Lynn are bearing the brunt of the crisis caused by Congress’s disgraceful inability to pass comprehensive immigration reform, it is important to note that the 30-40 people this bill will apply to each year will be over 18, so it will not impact the public schools.”