Special Juvenile Status: Why an 18-year-old Honduran remains detained by ICE while awaiting a green card

An 18-year-old Honduran student is being held in federal custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana, despite being in the process of obtaining a green card through Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS).

Elder Nain Chávez-Carranza was arrested in Alabama late last year following a traffic stop for speeding and lacking a driver's license. His family and legal advocates report that he fled Honduras in 2022 seeking safety and better opportunities. Now, they are campaigning for his release so he can return to high school.

His older sister, Mayuri Chávez, stated that Elder's mental and physical health have significantly declined during his detention. She raised concerns about him receiving insufficient food and inadequate dental care. Pastor Andy Yarnell, who visited the student, described the conditions as concerning, noting that Chávez-Carranza had to use his rosary cross to fix his braces and was not receiving dental check-ups.

Chávez-Carranza's teacher, Carmen Bahena, highlighted the negative impact his detention has had on his education. "Everyone loves Elder. He worked hard, helped other students, did everything right, and now he's half a year behind, trapped in a place where he can't learn," she said.

The SIJS classification, created by the U.S. Congress, protects minors who have been subjected to abuse, neglect, or abandonment, allowing them to apply for legal permanent residency. However, the process does not grant immediate official status. Chávez-Carranza's lawyer, Dalaney Mecham, explained that while he applied for protection against deportation, ICE requires him to provide in-person fingerprints at an external office. Due to his detention, he has missed three scheduled appointments for fingerprinting, complicating his legal process. Immigration authorities initiated deportation proceedings after his December arrest, and a judge deemed him removable, though his defense is appealing the decision.

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Todo el mundo quiere a Elder. Trabajaba duro, ayudaba a otros estudiantes, hacía todo bien, y ahora lleva medio año de retraso, está atrapado en un lugar donde no puede aprender.