Filed 12 / 23 / 19 ; Modified and Certified for Publication 1/8/20 (order attached)

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION THREE

O.C., a Minor,
Petitioner,

v.
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ORANGE COUNTY, Respondent;

BLANCA ODIL I A CARRILLO GALLARDO , as Guardian, etc., Real Party in Interest. G058416 (Super. Ct. No. 30

- 2019

- 01049051)

O P I N I O N

Appeal from findings by the Superior Court of Orange County, David L. Belz, Judge. Appeal treated as petition for writ of mandate. Petition granted.

Public Counsel, Mary Tanagho Ross, Lucero Chavez; Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Rex S. Heinke and Jessica M. Weisel for Petitioner.2 No appearance for Respondent. No appearance for Real Party in Interest.

* * *
I NTRODUCTION Special i mmigrant j uvenile f indings (SIJ findings) based on state law are a necessary f

irst step under the federal immigration law that allows abandoned , unaccompanied minors living in the United States to apply for status as permanent legal
residents. (8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27) (J) ; 1 Code Civ. Proc., § 155. 2 ) In this case, O.C., a
14

- year

- old refugee from Guatemala , asked the superior court to make the required SIJ findings based on California law

. A mandatory Judicial Council form has been created for this purpose. Items 4 (b) , 5, and 6 require the superior court to detail its findings,
citi ng California law. The superior court failed to cite California statutory or case law in items 4(b) and 6 , and did not check the box in item 5 to indicate O.C. cannot reunify with her mother, who is deceased

.

We treat the notice of appeal as a petition f or writ of mandate. We grant the petition and order the probate court to vacate the August 1, 2019 SIJ f indings and issue new findings in items 4 (b) and 6 of the mand atory Judicial Council form (FL

- 357/GC

- 224/JV

- 357 ) based on state law, as proposed by O.C . and in compliance

1 The federal government may grant special immigrant juvenile status to a minor “ who has been declared dependent [in] a juvenile court located in the United States or whom such a court has legally committed to, or placed under the custody of, an agency or department of a State, or an individual or entity appointed by a State or juvenile court located in the United States, and whose reunification with 1 or both of the immigrant ’ s parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a similar basis found under State law” provided “it has been determined in administrative or judicial proceedings that it would not be in the [minor’s] best interest to be returned to the [minor’s] . . . previous country.” (8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J) (i), (i i) .) 2 All undesignated statutory citations refer to the Code of C ivil Procedure

.3

with title 8 United States Code section 1101(a)(27)(J), 8 Code of Federal Regulations part 2 0 4 .11 (2019) , and Code of Civil Procedure section 155.

S TATEMENT OF F ACTS AND P ROCEDURAL H ISTORY O.C., now 14 years old, was born in Jutiapa, Guatemala. O.C. was 12 years old when her mother died. O.C.’s father became ill and depressed, and failed to provide O.C. with the care she needed. In July 2017, O.C. and her cousins left Guatemala and traveled through Mexico until they reached the Unit ed States. At the U.S.

- Mexico border, O.C. and her cousins were detained by immigration officials; they were released to the care of Blanca Odilia Carrillo Gallardo, O.C.’s aunt and the mother of her cousins.
Gallardo had moved to the United States in ab out 2008, and sent money back to O.C.’s
mother in Guatemala to care for her children.

O.C. has lived in Gallardo’s home since September 2018. O.C. is attending school and learning English. Gallardo provides O.C. with everything she needs and treats
her l ike a daughter. O.C.’s father does not send any money from Guatemala for her
expenses. O.C. has no one in Guatemala to care for her. Local gangs in O.C.’s
hometown assault and steal from com munity members; the police are unable to control the gang member s. Federal travel advisories support O.C. ’s fear that gang members w ill
hurt her if she return s to Guatemala

. 3

3 Travel advisories included in the appellate record describe the type and volume of crime committed in Guatemala and recommend American citizens reconsider traveling there. (See U.S. Dept. of State, Guatemala 2018 Crime and Safety Report < https://www.osac.gov/Content/Report/618d66c1

- c733

- 433f

- 96c0

- 15f4ae699d92 > archived at: < https://perma.cc/M2TC

- NSUY > [as of Dec. 20, 2019] ; U.S. Dept. of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Guatemala Travel Advisory < h ttps://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/guatemala

travel

- advisory.html > archived at: < https://perma.cc/KZ8T

- 7QY4 > [as of Dec. 20, 2019] .) According to these documents, “[v]iolent crime, suc h as armed robbery and murder , is common [throughout Guate mala]. Gang activity, such as extortion, violent4 On February 4, 2019, using mandatory Judicial Council forms,
O.C. petitioned the probate court t o appoint Gallardo as her guardian and to make SIJ findings

. O.C. included declarations in support of both petitions. No objections were
received. 4 Following a hearing, the probate court granted the petition to appoint Gallardo as O.C.’s guardian and approved the petition for SIJ findings.

As to the SIJ findings, the minute order rea ds: “The Court finds that: (1) The minor is a dependent upon the juvenile court, within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. Section 1101(a)(27)(J) and 8 C.F.R. Section 204.11(a), (d)(2)(i); (2) It is not in the best
interest of t he minor to return to the minor’s or the minor ’ s parents’ previous country of nationality or country of last habitual residence, within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. Section 1101(a)(27)(J) and 8 C.F.R. Section 204.11(d)(2)(iii); and (3) Reunification with one or both of the minor’s parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect or abandonment, within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. Section 1101(a)(27)(J) and 8 C.F.R. Section 204.11(d)(2)(iii).”

O.C.’s counsel submitted proposed SIJ findings on the mandatory Judicial
Council form ( FL

- 357/GC

- 224/JV

- 357 ) for that purpose

. T he probate clerk advised counsel the proposed findings could not be processed because they did not match the findings in the probate court’s minute order or the language of the petition.

O.C.’s counsel submi tted revised SIJ findings, again citing California law.
The probate court issued its findings on the Judicial Council form, but as factual bases for its findings in items 4 (b) and 6, it cited only the federal statute and federal code of regulations, not C alifornia law.

O.C.’s counsel then submitted amended SIJ findings and filed a memorandum of points and authorities explaining why the state law references suggested

street crime, and narcotics trafficking, is widespread. Local police may lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.” 4 O.C.’s father waived the right to notice for both the guardianship and SIJ findings petitions.5

by O.C.’s counsel, but not included in the probate court’s findings, was necessary. The probate clerk rejected the proposed amended findings: “We are unable to process the attached papers for the reasons indicated below: Order already on file 08/01/2019.
Order can not [ sic ] be amended to include codes that were not in the petition. Factua l findings are per minute order.”

O.C. filed a notice of appeal from the probate court’s SIJ findings. To ensure O.C. obtains appellate review of the probate court’s findings, we exercise our
discretion to treat the appeal as a petition for writ of mand ate. ( Olson v. Cory (1983) 35 Cal.3d 390, 400

- 401 ; see Eddie E. v. Superior Court (2013) 223 Cal.App.4th 622, 628 ( Eddie E. ) [petition for writ relief is the remedy for a superior court’s denial of a minor immigrant’s request for SIJ findings] .)

D ISCUSSI ON

Our analysis involves the application of law to undisputed facts ; accordingly, our review is de novo. ( Leslie H. v. Superior Court (2014) 224 Cal.App.4th 340, 347 ( Leslie H. ) .)

Title 8 United States Code section 1101(a)(27)(J) “is a form of immigrati on relief that affords undocumented children a pathway to lawful permanent residency and citizenship [by employing ] ‘a unique hybrid procedure that directs the collaboration of state and federal systems.’” ( In re Marisol N.H . (2014) 979 N.Y.S.2d 643, 645. ) As this court has observed, the specified procedure does not permit state courts to interpret or apply federal law or “ determine worthy candidates for citizenship, but simply to identify abused, neglected, or abandoned alien children under its jurisdict ion who cannot reunify with a parent or be safely returned in their best interests to their home country

. ” ( Leslie H., supra, 224 Cal.App.4th at p. 351.) State courts are “ ‘ called upon to determine’ discrete factual issues, including ‘whether, under stat e law , the juvenile is under the age of 21, unmarried, dependent upon the court through an order of placement6

or other court order, whether reunification w ith one or both of the juvenile’ s parents is not possible due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment of th e child, and whether it wo uld be contrary to the juvenile’ s best interest to be returned to his or her previous country of nationality.’” ( Ibid

. , italics added

. ) These findings must be made with reference to California law. (8 U.S.C. § 1101( a)(27)(J); 8 C.F.R. § 2 0 4 .11; Code Civ. Proc., § 155, subd. (a)(1) .) 5 Moreover, i f substantial evidence supports the requested SIJ findings, the issuance of the findings is mandatory. (§ 155, subd. (b)(1).)

Although t itle 8 United States Code section 1101(a)(27)(J) is worded in
terms of a state “juvenile court” having jurisdiction to make the requisite findings under state law, the relevant federal regulation defines “juvenile court ” as “a court located in the United States having jurisdiction under State law to mak e judicial determinations about the custody and care of juveniles.” (8 C.F.R. § 204.11(a).) S ection 155, which
codified the ho ldings in a number of Court of A ppeal decisions, is in accor d.
Section 155 , subdivision (a)(1) provides that jurisdiction “to m ake judicial determinations regarding the custody and care of children within the meaning of the federal Immigration

5 Federal and state practice guides reiterate and reinforce the need for state judges to make their findings based on state law. A United States Citizens hip and Immigration Services ( USCIS ) publication prepared for use by juvenile courts nationwide advises, “Juvenile courts issue orders that help determine a child’s eligibility for SIJ status. A child cannot apply to USCIS for SIJ status without an order from a juvenile court. . . . T he role of the court is to make factual findings based on state law about the abuse, neglect, or abandonment; family reunification; and best interests of the child

. ” (Special Immigrant Juvenile Status: Information for Juveni le Courts, italics added < https://www.ncjfcj.org/sites/default/files/Information_for_Juvenile_Courts

- FINAL%20%281%29.pdf > archived at: < https://perma.cc/2K6J

- MBNU > [as of Dec. 20, 2019] .) That same publication reminds juvenile courts that while they sho uld be familiar with current immigration law, “ [a] ll findings must be based on state law.” ( Ibid .) A September 30, 2014 memorandum from the California Judicial Council to presiding judges and chief executive officers of California’s superior courts addr esses section 155 and provide s in relevant part : “All findings are to be based on California state law.”7

and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101 et seq. and 8 C.F.R. Sec. 204.11)” rests with the superior court, “which includes, but is not limit ed to, the juvenile, probate, and family

court [s].”
I n Eddie E., supra , 223 Cal.App.4th 622

— a decision that predates
section 155

— this court explained that under the federal statute “a court must find either that an immigrant has been (a) ‘declared depend ent on a juvenile court’ or (b) ‘legally committed to, or placed under the custody of ’ a state agency or department or ‘an individual or entity appointed by a State or juvenile court located in the United States. ’ [Citation.] Once either of those finding s is made, the court must then ‘ “ ma[k]e two additional findings: (1) that reunification wi th one or both of the immigrant’ s parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a similar basis found under State law ; and (2) that it would not be in the alien ’ s best inter est to be returned to the alien’s or parent’ s previous country of nationality or country of last habitual residence. ” ’” ( Eddie E., supra , at pp

. 627

- 628 , third italics added ; see B.F. v. Superior Court (2012) 207 Cal.App.4th 621 , 63 0 [“the superior court sitting as a probate court has the authority and duty to make findings within the meaning of section 1101(a)(27)(J) [of title 8 of the United States Code] and 8 Code of Federal Regulations part 204.11”].)

T he requisite factual findin gs “may be made at any point in a proceeding regardless of the division of the superior court or type of proceeding.” (§ 155,
subd. (a)(2).) Three findings are required ( id. , subd. (b)(1)(A)

- (C)) ; additional findings may be made “if requeste d by a party” ( id. , subd. (b )(2).) The threshold finding for a superior court is that the immigrant child was either declared a dependent of the court or placed under the custody of a c ourt

- appointed guardian. ( Id. , subd. (b)(1)(A) (i), (ii).) In making this finding, the superior court must indicate the date on which the dependency or placement began. ( Id. , subd. (b)(1)(A)(ii).) The second required finding is that the immigrant child cannot reunify with one or both parents “because of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a similar basis pursuant to California law.” ( Id. , subd. (b )(1)(B).) The8

superior court’s findings must “indicate the date on which reunification was determined not to be viable.” ( Ibid. ) Finally, the superior court must find “ it is not in the best
in terest of the child to be returned to child’s . . . previous country.” ( Id. , subd. ( b )(1)(C).)

California superior court s must issue their findings on a Judicial Council
form created for this purpose. Item 4(b) on the form applies when the immigrant ch ild is not a dependent of the juvenile court, but has come within the superior court’s jurisdiction by other means, e.g., delinquency or guardianship. There, the superior court

must i nclude citations to the applicable state statutory or decisional authori ty ( e.g., Welf are and Institutions Code, Prob ate Code, or Fam ily Code) upon which the threshold custody or commitment order is based

. (§ 155, subd. (b)(1)(A) (i), (ii) .) In item 5 on the
form , the superior court must identify whether state court jurisdict ion was obtained as the
result of “ abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a similar basis pursuant to Ca lifornia law.” ( Id. , subd. (b )(1)(B).) The superior court’s findings also must “indicate the date on which reunification was determined not to be viable.” ( Ibid. ) Finally, item 6 on the form require s the superior court to make findings as to why it is not in the child’s best interest
to be returned to his or her country of nationality or last habitual residence . ( Id. , subd. ( b )(1)(C).)

O.C. submitted propos ed findings that complied with federal and state law. It appears the probate court never reviewed O.C.’s proposed findings, however. The probate court issued no minute orders concerning O.C.’s proposed language. Instead, the proposed findings were rejec ted for “processing” by a probate clerk, whose stated reasons
for the r ejections had no basis in law.

Ignoring O.C.’s proposed language, the pr obate court’s findings in
item 4(b) of the Judicial Council form cited only federal law. The probate court
appr opriately relied on state statutes and an appellate decision to support its findings in
item 5 as to O.C .’s father and deceased mother , but did not check the box referencing
mother

. T he probate court also failed to cite any state authority t o support the findings9

detailed in item 6. The findings in items 4(b) and 6 are insufficient under federal and
state law ; the failure to check the box in item 5 appears to be an oversight

.

The stated purpose for SIJ findings is to enable an immigrant child to petition the USCIS for SIJ status. (§ 155, subd. (a) ( 1).) The failure to issue the
SIJ findings under state law prejudices O.C.’s ability to seek SIJ status from USCIS. Without compliant findings, “ no youth can apply for [ SIJ status].” (Note, Fear and Failing i n Family Court: Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and t he State Court
Problem , 21 Cardozo J.L. & Gender 201, 214.) Indeed, SIJ status has been denied due to
the failure of other state courts to specify that their SIJ findings were based on state law. (S ee Matter of A

- A

- M

- R ( Jan. 31, 2019 ) A dmin. A ppeals O ff. No. 01949751 , at p. 4 [“For SIJ classification, the record must demonstrate that the court made a legal rather than solely factual determination on the viability of parental reunification because

sec tion 10l(a)(27)(J)(i) of the Act requires the ruling to be made ‘under State law’”]; 6 Matter of O

- T

- A (Aug. 16, 2017 ) A dmin. A ppeals O ff., No. 00214172 , at p. 3 [“Because the order and supporting evidence contain no reference to any state law under which t he reunification determination was made, the order lacks a qualifying determination that parental reunification is not viable, as section 101 (a)(27)(J)(i) of the Act requires [and] the Petitioner is ineligible for SIJ classification”].) 7

For this reason, the probate court must issue findings based on state law.

6 < https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/err/C6%20

- %20Dependent%20of%20Juvenile%20Court/Decisions_Issued_in_2019/JAN312019_02 C6101.pdf

> archive d at: < https://perma.cc/Z3F6

- M84S > [as of Dec. 20, 2019] 7 < https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/err/C6%20

- %20Dependent%20of%20Juvenile%20Court/Decisions_Issued_in_2017/AUG162017_0 1C6101.pdf

> archived at: < https://perma.cc/C8RK

- BG5A > [as of Dec. 20 , 2019]10 D ISPOSITION Let a writ of mandate issue directing respondent court to vacate the SIJ findings entered on August 1, 2019 . Within 10 days of this decision becoming final, O.C. may submit proposed f

indings for items 4(b) , 5 , and 6 o n the Judicial Council form.

DUNNING, J.*

WE CONCUR:

O’LEARY, P. J.

GOETHALS, J. * Retired Judge of the Orange Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the Californ ia Constitution.Filed 1/ 8/ 20

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION THREE

O.C., a Minor,
Petitioner,

v.
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ORANGE COUNTY, Respondent;

BLANCA ODILIA CARRILLO GALLARDO , as Guardian, etc., Real Party in Interest. G058416
(Super. Ct. No. 30

- 2019

- 01049051)

ORDER MODIFYING OPINION AND GRANTING REQUEST FOR PUBLICATION ; NO CHANGE IN JUDGMENT

It is ordered that our opinion filed on December 23, 2019, be modified as follows: On page 4, the first sentence of the last paragraph that begins “O.C.’s counsel then submitted,” and continues onto page 5 , the word “was” is changed to “were” so the
sentence reads:2 O.C.’s counsel then submitted amended SIJ findings and filed a memorandum of points and authorities explaining why the state law references suggested by O.C.’s counsel, but not included in the p robate court’s findings, were necessary. This modification does not result in a change in the judgment. Petitioner has requested that our opinion be certified for publication. It appears that our opinion meets the standards set forth in California Rules of Court, rule 8.1105(c)(1) and (6). The request is GRANTED. The opinion is ordered published in the Official Reports.

DUNNING , J. *

WE CONCUR:

O’LEARY, ACTING P. J.

GOETHALS, J.

* Retired j udge of the Orange Superior Co urt, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.