• Family Based Petitions
• Naturalization and Citizenship Classes (for preparation to pass the citizenship interview and available in both English and Spanish, for those who qualify).
• DACA - CCDSR is the only non-profit organization that currently provides this service for free thanks to the Peter Haas Jr. Family Fund.
• U-Visa/VAWA - CCDSR is one of the partners of the Family Justice Center of Sonoma County One-Stop.
• T-Visa – CCDSR is one of the partners of the Verity’s work with survivors of Human Trafficking program.

We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We advocate for peace and hope for an immediate end to this senseless war. 

Gymmel Trembly, Board Member

Deferred Action to be Offered for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ)
 

UCIS announced on March 7th that its Policy Manual has been updated to consider deferred action and related employment authorization for noncitizens who have an approved Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification but who cannot apply for lawful permanent residency to become a lawful permanent because a visa number is not available. This update will go into effect on May 6, 2022 and any SIJ applicants who have since moved are encouraged to update their address as soon as possible. 

USCIS will consider deferred action on a case-by-case basis and will grant it if the SIJ warrants a favorable exercise of discretion. Deferred action will be automatically granted for eligible SIJ individuals who cannot apply solely due to visa unavailability--A separate request will not be required nor accepted. Once an individual has been granted deferred action, it will be for a period of four years and will allow for them to apply for employment authorization. 

Deferred action is an act of prosecutorial discretion that defers proceedings to remove a noncitizen from the United States for a certain period, but is not considered lawful status. 

The SIJ classification is available to noncitizen children subject to state juvenile court proceedings related to abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a similar basis under state law. SIJ classification does not confer lawful status and does not result in eligibility to apply for employment authorization. Deferred action and related employment authorization will help to protect noncitizens with SIJ classification who cannot apply for adjustment of status solely because they are waiting for a visa number to become available. This process furthers congressional intent to provide humanitarian protection for abused, neglected, or abandoned noncitizen children for whom a juvenile court has determined that it is in their best interest to remain in the United States.

 

 

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
 

• 4 plantain (green, unripe)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 4 teaspoons olive oil or butter
• 1 cup water at room temperature
• To make onion garnish
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 red onion large
• 1 tablespoon fruit vinegar
• salt

 

• Peel the plantains  and cut lengthwise, then divide each half into two. Remove the center where the seeds are located for a smoother texture.
• Add salt to a pot of near-boiling water (enough to completely submerge the plantains), then add and boil the plantains until they are very tender.
• Remove the plantains from the water and mash them right away with a fork until they are very smooth and there are few to no lumps. Mix in olive oil, and water at room temperature and keep mashing and mixing until it turns into a smooth puree.
• For the onion garnish, heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over low heat. Add onions and cook and stir until they become translucent. Pour in vinegar and season with salt to taste.
• Garnish with the onion mixture

This dish is best served with sunny-side-up eggs or Dominican scrambled eggs, fried cheese, and fried slices of salami.