(750 ILCS 50/17.01)

Sec. 17.01. Special immigrant child findings.

(a) For the purpose of making a finding under this Section:

"Abuse" has the meaning ascribed to that term in subsection (1) of Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.

"Abandonment" includes, but is not limited to, the failure of a parent to maintain a reasonable degree of interest, concern, or responsibility for the welfare of the child or when one or both of the child's parents are deceased or cannot be reasonably located.

"Neglect" includes the meaning ascribed to the term in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and the failure to perform caretaking functions as defined in subsection (c) of Section 600 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

(b) A court of this State that is competent to adjudicate adoption petitions has jurisdiction to make the findings necessary to enable a child, who is the subject of a pending adoption petition, to petition the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for classification as a Special Immigrant Juvenile under Section 1101(a)(27)(J) of Title 8 of the United States Code.

(c) If a motion requests findings regarding Special Immigrant Juvenile Status under Section 1101(a)(27)(J) of Title 8 of the United States Code, and the evidence, which may consist solely of, but is not limited to, a declaration by the child, supports the findings, the court shall issue an order, that includes the following findings:

(1)(A) the child is declared a dependent of the court; or (B) the child is legally committed to, or placed under the custody of, a State agency or department or an individual or entity appointed by the court; and

(2) that reunification of the child with one or both of the child's parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, or other similar basis; and

(3) that it is not in the best interest of the child to be returned to the child's or parent's previous country of nationality or last habitual residence.

(Source: P.A. 101-121, eff. 11-25-19 (see P.A. 101-592 for the effective date of changes made by P.A. 101-121).)