What HB 667 Does: On April 13, 2026, the governor of Virginia signed House Bill 667 into law, which allows immigrant youth between the ages of 18 and 21 who reside in Virginia and have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by one or both of their parents to petition their Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (“JDR”) for a custody order with findings necessary for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”). The bill also updates the definitions of “child,” “juvenile,” and “minor” to include children ages 18 to 21. This bill will go into effect on July 1, 2026.
Why This Matters for SIJS: SIJS is a form of humanitarian immigration relief available to unmarried immigrants under the age of 21. To be granted SIJS, a state court must enter an order finding that:
- The child has been abused, neglected, or abandoned by one or both of their parents;
- The child cannot safely reunify with that parent(s); and
- That it would not be in their best interest to return to their home country.
Prior to the passage of HB 667, Virginia law only allowed JDRs to take jurisdiction of a custody matter for children whose petition was filed while they were under the age of 18. This meant that immigrant youth ages 18 to 21 living in Virginia who met the requirements noted above could not obtain an order from the state court and thus were not eligible to petition for SIJS.
However, with the passage of HB 667, all immigrant youth under the age of 21 who live in Virginia and have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by one or both of their parents can now seek a custody order with SIJS findings from a state court judge, which will allow them to pursue SIJS. The passage of this bill is an excellent reflection of how states should continue adapting their laws to ensure immigrant youth are not excluded from federal protections due to arbitrary age cutoffs.
If you have questions about whether you or a loved one living in Virginia is eligible to pursue SIJS, the experienced attorneys at Murray Osorio are here to help. Contact us today at (800) 929-7142 or online to schedule a consultation.