E.C.D. v. In the matter of P.D.R.D.

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REL: 12/7/2012 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , Alabama 36104-3741 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2012-2013 2111101 E.C.D. v. In the matter o f P.D.R.D. Appeal from F r a n k l i n J u v e n i l e Court (JU-11-178.01) THOMAS, J u d g e . E.C.D. a p p e a l s f r o m a judgment o f t h e F r a n k l i n J u v e n i l e C o u r t a d j u d i c a t i n g P.D.R.D. ("the c h i l d " ) d e p e n d e n t , i n s o f a r as t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t , i n i t s j u d g m e n t , f a i l e d t o make c e r t a i n findings of fact. Because t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t d i d n o t address 2111101 a l l t h e i s s u e s p r e s e n t e d b e f o r e i t , we d e t e r m i n e t h a t judgment i s n o n f i n a l and d i s m i s s t h e a p p e a l . The child was b o r n i n G u a t e m a l a on November 23, 1994. When t h e c h i l d was 11 y e a r s and b e g a n w o r k i n g family. such 1 attending school i n c o n s t r u c t i o n i n order t o help support h i s The c h i l d ' s p a r e n t s c a n n o t p r o v i d e b a s i c n e c e s s i t i e s as f o o d , c l o t h i n g , Guatemala o l d , he s t o p p e d does or health care. n o t have indoor The c h i l d ' s home i n plumbing, and t h e c l o s e s t h o s p i t a l i s a 4 0 - m i n u t e w a l k f r o m t h e home. A t t h e age o f 16, the c h i l d t r a v e l e d unaccompanied from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States. On o r about by the United Services ("USCIS") when he c r o s s e d t h e U n i t e d of and Immigration States border The c h i l d was e v e n t u a l l y r e l e a s e d i n t o t h e c a r e E.C.D., t h e c h i l d ' s legal, Citizenship 16, 2 0 1 1 , he was arrested i n t o Texas. States May half brother. 2 permanent r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e d E.C.D. i s an a d u l t , S t a t e s who l i v e s i n F r a n k l i n County, Alabama. The c h i l d ' s f a t h e r s u f f e r s f r o m d i a b e t e s a n d i s u n a b l e t o w o r k ; t h e c h i l d ' s m o t h e r does n o t work b e c a u s e t h e r e a r e no j o b s f o r women i n t h e a r e a where s h e l i v e s . 1 T h e c h i l d a n d E.C.D. different fathers. 2 share 2 t h e same m o t h e r b u t have 2111101 On court November 28, 2 0 1 1 , E.C.D. to declare the c h i l d custody of the c h i l d . petitioned dependent the juvenile and t o award The j u v e n i l e c o u r t held E.C.D. a hearing on E.C.D.'s d e p e n d e n c y p e t i t i o n on J u l y 3 1 , 2 0 1 2 . A c c o r d i n g t o the r e c o r d , E.C.D. o r a l l y r e q u e s t e d a t t h e d e p e n d e n c y hearing and i n a b e n c h memorandum t h a t t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t make c e r t a i n findings USCIS defined of f a c t that would allow f o r "Special in 8 Immigrant U.S.C. § Juvenile" 1101(a)(27)(J). memorandum, E.D.C. s p e c i f i c a l l y court, the c h i l d requested t o apply to the ("SIJ") In that status, the as bench the juvenile i n a d d i t i o n t o f i n d i n g t h e c h i l d dependent, a l s o find that: "The c h i l d ' s r e u n i f i c a t i o n w i t h one o r b o t h p a r e n t s i s n o t v i a b l e due t o a b u s e , n e g l e c t , o r abandonment or a s i m i l a r b a s i s found under s t a t e l a w ; and " I t i s n o t i n t h e c h i l d ' s b e s t i n t e r e s t t o be returned t o h i s or her country of n a t i o n a l i t y or last habitual residence." On A u g u s t 3, 2012, t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t adjudicating E.C.D. the c h i l d dependent e n t e r e d a judgment and awarding custody to The j u d g m e n t i n c l u d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g f i n d i n g s o f f a c t : " B a s e d on t h e t e s t i m o n y , t h e m i n o r c h i l d ' s f a t h e r does n o t have f u l l - t i m e employment due t o an i l l n e s s ( d i a b e t e s ) . The c h i l d ' s m o t h e r does n o t work b e c a u s e t h e r e a r e no j o b s f o r women where t h e y l i v e . 3 2111101 H i s home i n G u a t e m a l a h a s an o u t s i d e b a t h r o o m . The c l o s e s t h o s p i t a l i s a 4 0 - m i n u t e w a l k f r o m h i s home. The m i n o r c h i l d q u i t s c h o o l when he was e l e v e n y e a r s o l d a n d began w o r k i n g w i t h h i s f a t h e r a n d d o i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n work. He t e s t i f i e d he c a n n o t go b a c k t o s c h o o l a t t h e p r e s e n t time and h i s p a r e n t s cannot take care of him because of t h e i r financial s i t u a t i o n . He l e f t G u a t e m a l a when he was 16 y e a r s o l d t o come t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o g e t a j o b t o s e n d money b a c k t o h i s f a m i l y i n G u a t e m a l a . " However, t h e j u d g m e n t d i d n o t c o n t a i n t h e d e t a i l e d f i n d i n g s o f f a c t t h a t were r e q u i r e d f o r t h e c h i l d t o a p p l y w i t h t h e USCIS. E.C.D. a p p e a l e d t o t h i s for S I J status c o u r t on A u g u s t 16, 2012. E.C.D. does not affirmative findings. juvenile court erred challenge States. juvenile court's R a t h e r , he a r g u e s i n h i s b r i e f t h a t t h e by failing necessary f o rthe c h i l d t o apply the U n i t e d the This to include the findings f o r S I J s t a t u s and remain i n i s an i s s u e o f f i r s t impression i n Alabama. Special-immigrant-juvenile children to 1101(a)(27)(J); lawful s t a t u s i s a pathway f o r a l i e n permanent 8 C.F.R. § 204.11. residency. In order 8 U.S.C § to p e t i t i o n the U S C I S f o r S I J s t a t u s , an i m m i g r a n t c h i l d must be u n d e r t h e age of 21 a n d u n m a r r i e d . have been declared 8 C.F.R. § 2 0 4 . 1 1 ( c ) . dependent by a s t a t e 4 The c h i l d must juvenile court, 8 2111101 U.S.C. § 1 1 0 1 ( a ) ( 2 7 ) ( J ) , a n d t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t must have made two a d d i t i o n a l f i n d i n g s : (1) t h a t " r e u n i f i c a t i o n both of the immigrant's parents neglect, law" abandonment, and interest (2) t h a t t o be r e t u r n e d 1 or i s n o t v i a b l e due t o a b u s e , or a s i m i l a r " i t would with basis n o t be found under i n the a l i e n ' s to the a l i e n ' s or parent's State best previous country of n a t i o n a l i t y or country of l a s t h a b i t u a l residence." 8 U.S.C. § 1 1 0 1 ( a ) ( 2 7 ) ( J ) ( i ) 204.11. The state evidence supports 1101(a)(27)(J); status rests and ( i i ) ; juvenile court the required however, with the see a l s o determines findings the f i n a l federal 8 C.F.R. § whether t h e under decision government. 8 U.S.C. § regarding S I J 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J)(iii). Although n e i t h e r o u r supreme c o u r t nor t h i s court have been c a l l e d upon t o a d d r e s s t h i s i s s u e , we f i n d t h e r e a s o n i n g of the Georgia Court of Appeals A12A1225, Nov. 9, 2012] (2012) i n s t r u c t i v e . case at bar. juvenile court i n I n r e J.J.X.C., Ga. App. , [No. S.E.2d The f a c t s i n J . J . X . C . a r e p a r a l l e l t o t h e I n J.J.X.C., i s charged that with court making concluded that "the the factual inquiry r e l e v a n t t o S I J s t a t u s when an u n m a r r i e d , r e s i d e n t a l i e n 5 child 2111101 is f o u n d t o be ___ S.E.2d a t failure to child. (footnote include "effectively residence, d e p e n d e n t on t h e the terminates clearly c o u r t . " ___ omitted). findings the 654 A App. affecting a a t ___ , juvenile relevant to court's SIJ application for legal status permanent substantial right" I n r e I n t e r e s t o f L u i s G., N.W.2d 648, Ga. 17 Neb. App. 377, of the 385, 764 (2009). This c o u r t i s unable t o determine whether the absence of the S I J - s t a t u s f i n d i n g s i n the an i m p l i e d d e n i a l o r s i m p l y j u v e n i l e c o u r t ' s judgment an o v e r s i g h t . an o p i n i o n as t o t h e m e r i t s o f t h i s c a s e ; the was j u v e n i l e court presented However, this juvenile court satisfy a without the special S.E.2d a t ; we SIJ-status addressing law," can express i t i s the purview of circumstance i s charged w i t h only to f e d e r a l immigration , ___ do n o t to determine whether s u f f i c i e n t to is We requirements. "where an J.J.X.C., evidence issue Ga. n e i t h e r a f f i r m nor a state relevant App. at reverse some i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t a d d r e s s e d SIJ-status issues. "Even t h o u g h t h i s i s s u e has n o t been a d d r e s s e d by e i t h e r p a r t y , t h i s c o u r t must f i r s t d e t e r m i n e whether i t has jurisdiction over this appeal. ' " J u r i s d i c t i o n a l matters are of such importance t h a t 6 was the 2111101 a c o u r t may t a k e n o t i c e o f them ex mero motu. N a y l o r v. N a y l o r , 981 So. 2d 440, 441 ( A l a . C i v . r\ r\ App. 2007) ( q u o t i n g McMurphy v. E a s t B a y C l o t h i e r s , 892 So. 2d 395, 397 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 4 ) ) . 'The question whether a judgment i s final is i a j u r i s d i c t i o n a l q u e s t i o n , a n d t h e r e v i e w i n g c o u r t , on a d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t t h e judgment i s n o t f i n a l , has a d u t y t o d i s m i s s t h e c a s e . ' H u b b a r d v. H u b b a r d , 935 So. 2d 1 1 9 1 , 1192 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2006) ( c i t i n g J i m W a l t e r Homes, I n c . v . Holman, 373 So. 2d 869, 871 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1 9 7 9 ) ) . '[A] f i n a l j u d g m e n t i s a " t e r m i n a l d e c i s i o n w h i c h d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e r e h a s been a complete adjudication of a l l matters in c o n t r o v e r s y b e t w e e n t h e l i t i g a n t s . " ' Dees v . S t a t e , 563 So. 2d 1059, 1061 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1990) ( q u o t i n g T i d w e l l v. T i d w e l l , 496 So. 2d 91, 92 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1 9 8 6 ) ) . " 7\ -^-^ O n \ I ^ A \ ^ ¢^/r.-, ¢^/r-,-,- ¢^-.^^-^TT -r-r T7'-^^-l- 'n-^TT i ^ A-i^. A ^ ^ B u l t e r v . P h i l l i p s , 3 So. 3d 922, 925 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 8 ) . As we p r e v i o u s l y e x p l a i n e d , E.C.D. s p e c i f i c a l l y a s k e d t h e juvenile court t o make f i n d i n g s o f f a c t status requirements both the dependency h e a r i n g . failure regarding the S I J - i n a b e n c h memorandum a n d o r a l l y a t We c o n c l u d e that the j u v e n i l e court's t o i n c l u d e such f i n d i n g s i n i t s judgment r e n d e r s t h e A u g u s t 3, 2012, j u d g m e n t n o n f i n a l . A c c o r d i n g l y , we dismiss t h e a p p e a l w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t t o make t h e findings regarding the S I J - s t a t u s requirements s e t out i n 8 U.S.C. § 1 1 0 1 ( a ) ( 2 7 ) ( J ) . APPEAL DISMISSED WITH INSTRUCTIONS. Thompson, P . J . , a n d P i t t m a n 7 a n d Moore, J J . , c o n c u r . 2111101 Bryan, J . , concurs i n the r e s u l t , without 8 writing.

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