P.G., MINOR CHILD, APPELLANT,
v.
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, APPELLEE
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A minor child from El Salvador in immigration removal proceedings sought to be declared dependent on the grounds of parental neglect and abandonment. The court affirmed dismissal of the dependency petition, holding that the trial court lacked jurisdiction because the Attorney General had not consented to the court's jurisdiction over the child, who was in constructive custody under federal immigration law.
The trial court lacked jurisdiction over the dependency proceeding because P.G. was in constructive custody under 8 U.S.C. § 1101, and the Attorney General had not expressly consented to the court's jurisdiction, which is required by federal law before a juvenile court may determine the custody status or placement of an alien in the actual or constructive custody of the Attorney General.
[1] A juvenile court lacks jurisdiction to determine the custody status or placement of an alien in the actual or constructive custody of the Attorney General unless the Atto…
[2] An alien paroled into the United States subject to conditions such as reporting requirements or the posting of a bond is considered to be in the constructive custody of t…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“no juvenile court has jurisdiction to determine the custody status or placement of an alien in the actual or constructive custody of the Attorney General unless the Attorney General specifically consents to such jurisdiction”
Establishes the statutory requirement that federal law prohibits juvenile courts from exercising jurisdiction over aliens in Attorney General custody without express consent
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceP.G., a citizen of El Salvador, entered the United States illegally in June 2001 and was apprehended by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. He…
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PER CURIAM.
We deny rehearing but withdraw our prior opinion and substitute the following in its place.
P.G., a minor child, appeals the trial court’s order dismissing a Petition for Adjudication of Dependency filed on his behalf by private counsel. We affirm the dismissal, but on different grounds.
P.G. is a citizen of El Salvador. He entered the United States illegally in June 2001. The Immigration and Naturalization Service apprehended him, but subsequently released him into the custody of his uncle who lives in North Lauderdale, Florida. P.G. has been residing with his uncle since that time. In January 2003, counsel representing P.G. filed a private Petition for Dependency seeking to have P.G. declared dependent.1 As the basis for the Petition, counsel alleged that P.G. was neglected and abandoned by his parents. At the time of the Petition, P.G. was bound over in immigration removal proceedings. The trial court determined that P.G. was not dependent within the meaning of Chapter 39, Florida Statutes, was not eligible for long term foster care, and was not eligible for special juvenile immigration status. The trial court dismissed the Petition on these grounds.
Appellee, the Department of Children and Family Services, contends that the dismissal was appropriate because the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the matter. We agree. Since P.G. is bound over in immigration removal proceedings, under § 1101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Attorney General must,consent to the trial court’s jurisdiction over the dependency , proceeding. 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J)(iii) states in relevant part:
(iii) in whose case the Attorney General expressly consents to the dependency order serving as a precondition to the grant of special immigrant juvenile status; except that-
(I) no juvenile court has jurisdiction to determine the custody status or placement of an alien in the actual or constructive custody of the Attorney General unless the Attorney General specifically consents to such jurisdiction ...
We find that P.G.’s status qualifies as constructive custody due to the fact that he is subject to the conditions outlined in 8 C.F.R. § 212.5 (2003). Subsection (d) places the following conditions on the parole:
Conditions. In any case where an alien is paroled under paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, those officials listed in paragraph (a) of this section may require reasonable assurances that the alien will appear at all hearings and/or depart the United States when required to do so. Not all factors listed need be present for parole to be exercised. Those officials should apply reasonable discretion. The consideration of all relevant factors includes:
(1) The giving of an undertaking by the applicant, counsel, or a sponsor to ensure appearances or departure, and a bond may be required on Form I-352 in such amount as may be deemed appropriate;
(2) Community ties such as close relatives with known addresses; and
(3) Agreement to reasonable conditions (such as periodic reporting of whereabouts).
In addition, subsection (e) provides for the circumstances under which the parole may be terminated.
There was no evidence in the instant case that the Attorney General consented to the trial court’s jurisdiction. Therefore, under section 1101, the trial court lacked jurisdiction. See also M.B. v. Quarantillo, 301 F. 3d 109 (3d Cir.2002); Gao v. Jenifer, 185 F. 3d 548 (6th Cir.1999). Affirmed.
WARNER, GROSS and HAZOURI, JJ., concur. . If P.G. is declared dependent, he will be eligible for special immigration status under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27). This provision allows juvenile immigrants who have been declared dependent by a juvenile court, and meet other conditions, to apply for a special immigrant visa and avoid deportation.
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F.L.M. v. Dep't of Child. & Families, 912 So. 2d 1264 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005)…nsent only if the Attorney General has actual or constructive custody of the child. Nothing in this record would support a finding that the Attorney General has ever had any custody of the child. In P.G. v. Department of Children & Family Services, 867 So. 2d 1248, 1249 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004), we held that the trial court lacked jurisdiction over a child to declare dependency because the child was then in the constructive custody of the Attorney General, who had released him to an uncle. But where a child has ne…
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In the Interest of Y.V., 160 So. 3d 576 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015)…lorida’s dependency law as a method of obtaining permanent residency for a person who has crossed the border illegally. Second, the court signaled that it doubted its jurisdiction over the case, by citing P.G. v. Department of Children and Families, 867 So. 2d 1248 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004), which dealt with a specific exception to Florida’s jurisdiction over dependency proceedings involving immigrant children. As explained more fully below, a petitioner’s intent to seek SIJ status does not invalidate a dependency p…
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L.T. v. Dep't of Child. & Families, 48 So. 3d 928 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010)…al court’s order dismissing L.T.’s dependency petition should be affirmed because the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to rule on the petition. To support this argument, DCF relies on P.G. v. Department of Children and Family Services, 867 So. 2d 1248 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004). In that case, P.G. was apprehended by the Immigration and Naturalization Service after illegally entering the United States. He was subsequently released into the custody of his uncle. At the time of the dependency petition, P.G…
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