Matter of Antowa McD., 3479.
| Decision Date | 24 April 2008 |
| Docket Number | 3479. |
| Citation | 50 A.D.3d 507,2008 NY Slip Op 03690,856 N.Y.S.2d 576 |
| Parties | In the Matter of ANTOWA McD., an Infant, Appellant. DEONNE ANDREA W., Petitioner, v. WAYNE McD., et al., Respondents. |
| Court | New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division |
Appellant was sent by her mother from her native Jamaica to live with her father in the United States at the age of four in 2003, but was quickly abandoned by her father, who left her with her aunt. Upon her mother refusing to take her back, she has continued to reside with the aunt. Although Family Court issued letters of guardianship to the aunt, it refused to make the factual findings that would enable appellant to apply for special immigrant juvenile status, i.e., that she was eligible for long-term foster care due to abuse, neglect or abandonment, and that it would not be in her best interests to be returned to Jamaica. This was error given a record that clearly establishes parental abandonment, contains a statement from the mother that she is unable "to give [appellant] the love and attention she needs," and clearly establishes that it is appellant's best interests to continue living in her aunt's loving and nurturing home. Family Court's appointment of a guardian constitutes the necessary declaration of dependency on a juvenile court (Matter of Menjivar, 29 Immigr L & Pro Rptr B2-37 [1994], , 8 CFR 204.11 [a]).
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