News & Resources
Note: The Central American Minors Program has been impacted by actions by the Trump Administration after the date of this publication in March 2024. This publication is not being updated, and IRAP is making it available for historical reference only. Please see IRAP’s webpage on Navigating Trump’s Second Term for additional resources and information.
Since February 2024, Guatemalan, Honduran, and Salvadoran parents and legal guardians living in the United States can seek to initiate CAM processing to sponsor their children and other family members to join them in the United States. Two years ago, on March 15, 2022, the Biden administration began Phase 1 of re-opening of the Central American Minors (CAM) Program. On this second anniversary of the CAM Program’s re-opening, we highlight the CAM Program’s expanded eligibility criteria and the current process to apply.
The Biden administration announced in April 2023 expanded eligibility criteria for the Central American Minors (CAM) Refugee and Parole Program, as IRAP described here. In February 2024, the government released the application form to enable these newly eligible families to apply for CAM. CAM applications can only be filed through a local Resettlement Agency or through the International Rescue Committee (IRC) CAM Hotline or Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) CAM Application Program.
Who is eligible?
- Qualifying Parents and Legal Guardians
- At least 18 years old; living in the United States; and with LPR status, TPS, parole or deferred action issued for at least one year, deferred enforced departure, withholding of removal, or with a pending asylum or T visa application or U visa petition filed on or before April 11, 2023
- Qualifying Children
- Biological, step, or legally adopted child, unmarried, under age 21 at time of application, and physically located in and a national of El Salvador, Guatemala or Honduras
- Eligible Family Members
- Children of the qualifying child, in-country parent of the qualifying child, unmarried children under age 21 of the in-country parent, children of the qualifying parent and their children and spouses, siblings of the qualifying child, and certain caregivers of the qualifying child
Through the CAM Program, children and other family members may be resettled in the United States as refugees or paroled into the United States.
Short handouts in English and Spanish are available here or below, as well as a notice to attorneys.
Parents and guardians may contact the IRC CAM Hotline or the KIND CAM Applications Program to file their CAM application now:
- Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the IRC CAM Hotline: (917) 410-7546 or info@menoresCAM.com
- Advocates for prospective applicants are encouraged to complete a KIND referral form: https://bit.ly/kindsolicitantesCAM
- Calling the IRC CAM Hotline and completing the KIND referral link accomplish the same thing: please don’t do both.
- For more general information, please see IRAP’s CAM website: www.menoresCAM.com
Central American Minors (CAM) Refugee and Parole Program- Enhancements as of April 11 2023
Notice to Parents of Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Honduran Children
Aviso a Padres de Hijos Salvadoreños, Guatemaltecos y Hondureños
Notice to Attorneys Representing Parents of Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Honduran Children
This blog post is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute attorney-client advice. If you would like more general legal information about the CAM Refugee and Parole Program in English and Spanish, or to request help from IRAP, please use IRAP’s Legal Information website.
This publication is from March 2024. It is not being updated and does not reflect legal changes since publication. Please see IRAP’s Legal Practitioner Resources page for newer resources and additional information for legal practitioners.
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