Policy & Advocacy
The Door is engaged in broad-ranging systemic immigration policy research and advocacy work to ensure the needs and rights of immigrant youth are elevated and accounted for. We seek to center the voices of the young people we serve in this work by envisioning and fighting for a more just reality alongside them every step of the way.
Our current priorities are:
to elevate the voices of immigrant youth in their fight for human rights and dignity;
to abolish the visa backlog for Special Immigrant Juveniles;
to protect the human rights of unaccompanied minors detained in (Office of Refugee Resettlement) ORR facilities in New York State;
to hold United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) accountable for the adjudication of SIJS petitions within 180 days, as mandated by Congress;
to educate lawmakers on the policy issues impacting immigrant youth.
Learn more about our direct legal services for young people, as well as about our pro bono program and partnering with us.
In the News
Legal Services Center Policy Dispatch
The Legal Services Center publishes a periodic policy dispatch detailing our current advocacy priorities and The Door’s position on emerging policy issues directly impacting our clients. The dispatch often highlights the thoughts of the young people we serve and includes a summary of our recent publications. Complete this sign-up form to subscribe to our policy dispatch.
Other Publications
The Door frequently comments publicly on policy issues impacting immigrant youth. Our most recent writing is linked here:
The Door - Testimony on Immigrant Youth - May 2025
Jun 3, 2025
The Door's Legal Services Center Written Testimony Before New York City Council Committee on Immigration & Committee on General Welfare
Mar 5, 2025
The Door's Testimony on Transgender, Non-conforming, and Nonbinary (TGNCNB) Youth Supports
Mar 9, 2025
The Door's Legal Services Center Written Testimony Before New York City Council Committee on Immigration & Committee on General Welfare
Jan 15, 2025
The Door's Legal Services Center Written Testimony Before New York City Council Committee on Immigration & Committee on General Welfare
Nov 17, 2024
The Door's Legal Services Center Written Testimony Before City Council, October - Oversight Hearing: Resources for Immigrant Youth Who Arrived to the U.S. as Unaccompanied Children
Oct 14, 2024
The Door Comments on Mandatory Bars in Fear Screenings
Jun 11, 2024
The Door's Legal Services Center Written Testimony Before City Council - May
May 9, 2024
The Door's Legal Services Center Written Testimony Before City Council - April
Apr 15, 2024
The Door's Legal Services Center Written Testimony Before City Council - March
Mar 21, 2024
NYC Council Budget Hearing Testimony On Funding for Immigration Legal Services Providers
Mar 11, 2020
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Pamphlet in Chinese, Arabic & Hindi
Nov 14, 2022
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Pamphlet in English, Spanish & French
Nov 14, 2021
The Door’s Recommendations to the HHS Biden Transition Team on Issues Impacting Detained Minors
Dec 28, 2020
Public Comment on EOIR Proposed “Good Cause for a Continuance in Immigration Proceedings” Rule, EOIR 19-0410, Dir. Order No. 02-2021
Comment
Dec 22, 2020
The Door’s Recommendations to the Biden/Harris Administration, “Reopening Our Doors to Vulnerable Immigrant Youth: Recommendations on U.S. Immigration Policy Impacting Young People”
Dec 11, 2020
The Door’s DACA Policy Dispatch
Oct 30, 2020
Public Comment on USCIS Proposed SIJS Rule, Docket No. USCIS-2009-0004
Comment
Nov 14, 2020
NYC Council Hearing Written Testimony in Support of Res. 1173
Feb 9, 2020
Strategic Litigation
The Door routinely participates in systemic litigation to vindicate the rights of our clients. See our most recent litigation related documents here:
Our Team
Stephanie Lopez, Co-Managing Director, Legal Services Center, slopez@door.org
Meena Shah, Co-Managing Director, Legal Services Center, mshah@door.org
Beth Baltimore, Pro Bono Managing Attorney, bbaltimore@door.org
Michael Williams, Senior Staff Attorney, michael@door.org
Suyana Handman, Managing Social Worker, shandman@door.org
Contact Directory
For Questions
Legal Services Center Co-Managing Director Stephanie Lopez, slopez@door.org
Legal Services Center Co-Managing Director Meena Shah, mshah@door.org
Media Inquiries
Mika De Roo, mderoo@door.org