Court Opinion

ID: 9904796
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-27 21:09:26.929766+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:21:27.515684
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
                               MIDDLE DISTRICT

LICELY JUAREZ VELASQUEZ,                          : No. 454 MAL 2023
                                                  :
                      Petitioner                  :
                                                  : Petition for Allowance of Appeal
                                                  : from the Order of the Superior Court
              v.                                  :
                                                  :
                                                  :
LIZARDO MARROQUIN MIRANDA,                        :
                                                  :
                      Respondent                  :

                                         ORDER

PER CURIAM

      AND NOW, this 27th day of November, 2023, the Petition for Allowance of Appeal

is GRANTED. The issues, rephrased for clarity, are:

   (1) Whether the Superior Court, when it determined the Children are not
       statutorily eligible for special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS) under federal
       law, misapprehended the role and authority of Pennsylvania courts when
       such determinations are within the exclusive authority and jurisdiction of the
       United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

   (2) Whether the Superior Court erred in concluding the Children are not
       statutorily eligible for SIJS notwithstanding the fact the trial court awarded
       sole custody to Mother.

   (3) Whether the trial court erred in holding Mother failed to meet her burden to
       prove the predicate findings for SIJS: a) Children’s reunification with Father
       is not viable due to abandonment, abuse, neglect, or a similar basis under
       Pennsylvania law; and b) it is not in the Children’s best interest to return to
       Guatemala.