Opinion ID: 623898
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: N.P. failed to satisfy.

Text: A year later, Pimentel filed an I-360 self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (“VAWA”) on behalf of herself and A.N.P. She was subsequently informed, through an I-797 notice, that she had established a prima facie 2212 PIMENTEL v. DREYFUS case under the VAWA’s self-petitioning provisions, qualifying her and her son to receive certain public benefits while they awaited a final decision. Pimentel immediately submitted to DSHS an updated eligibility-review form, attaching the I- 797 notice. Her monthly food assistance benefit was subsequently increased to $245. Soon thereafter, Pimentel received a second notice from the federal government, advising her that her VAWA self-petition had been approved and that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had placed her case under deferred action. She requested and was approved deferred action for her and A.N.P., and both are now pursuing legal permanent residence (“LPR”). As a victim of domestic abuse, Pimentel is a “qualified alien,” as defined in WAC 388-424-0001, who would otherwise be eligible for SNAP benefits, but for the citizenship and alien-status requirements of WAC 388-424-0020. Pimentel’s attorneys maintain that A.N.P., as a minor child of a victim of domestic abuse, is eligible for SNAP benefits under WAC 388-424-0020(2)(b)(i) and (ii). Pimentel’s youngest child was born in late 2008, and she reported this fact to DSHS about a month later. DSHS then increased her monthly food assistance amount to $565.