Current through September 30, 2024
Section 410.1208 - ORR's discretion to place an unaccompanied child in the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program(a) An unaccompanied child may be eligible for services through the ORR Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Program. Eligible categories of unaccompanied children include:(1) Cuban and Haitian entrant as defined in section 501 of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, 8 U.S.C. 1522 note, and as provided for at 45 CFR 400.43 ;(2) An individual determined to be a victim of a severe form of trafficking as defined in 22 U.S.C. 7102(11) ;(3) An individual DHS has classified as a Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) under section 101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J) , and who was either in the custody of HHS at the time a dependency order was granted for such child or who was receiving services pursuant to section 501(a) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, 8 U.S.C. 1522 note, at the time such dependency order was granted;(4) U nonimmigrant status recipients under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(U) ; or(5) Other populations of children as authorized by Congress.(b) With respect to unaccompanied children described in paragraph (a) of this section, ORR shall evaluate each unaccompanied child case to determine whether it is in the child's best interests to be placed in the URM Program.(c) When ORR places an unaccompanied child pursuant to this section to receive services through the URM Program, legal responsibility of the child, including legal custody or guardianship, must be established under State law as required by 45 CFR 400.115 . Until such legal custody or guardianship is established, the ORR Director shall retain legal custody of the child.