In re Guardianship of Carlos D. , 300 Neb. 646 ( 2018 )

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IN RE GUARDIANSHIP OF CARLOS D.
Cite as 300 Neb. 646
In re Guardianship of Carlos D., a minor child.
Eleany Esmerelda Zunun Gonzalez, appellant,
v. State of Nebraska, appellee.
___ N.W.2d ___
Filed July 27, 2018. No. S-17-1056.
1. Statutes. Statutory interpretation presents a question of law.
2. Courts: Jurisdiction: Guardians and Conservators. A Nebraska
county court has exclusive original jurisdiction in all matters relating to
the guardianship of a person, subject to exceptions.
3. Guardians and Conservators: Child Custody. Under Nebraska stat-
utes and jurisprudence, a guardianship of a child is a child custody
determination.
4. Courts: Jurisdiction: Child Custody: Federal Acts. The 2017 amend-
ment to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-1238(b) (Reissue 2016) clarifies that courts
with jurisdiction over an “initial child custody determination” as that
term is used in § 43-1238(a) also have jurisdiction and authority to
make special findings of fact similar to those contemplated by 8 U.S.C.
§ 1101(a)(27)(J) (Supp. V 2018).
5. Legislature: Statutes: Time. Generally, legislation that is passed takes
effect 3 calendar months after the Legislature adjourns unless the
Legislature evidences otherwise.
6. Statutes: Time. Procedural amendments to statutes are ordinarily appli-
cable to pending cases, while substantive amendments are not.
7. Statutes: Words and Phrases. A substantive right is one which cre-
ates a right or remedy that did not previously exist and which, but for
the creation of the substantive right, would not entitle one to recover. A
procedural amendment simply changes the method by which an already
existing right is exercised.
8. Statutes: Child Custody: Time. A statutory amendment to Neb. Rev.
Stat. § 43-1238(b) (Reissue 2016) which merely clarifies the authority
and procedure for making the factual findings in a case involving child
custody is a procedural amendment and applies to pending cases.
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IN RE GUARDIANSHIP OF CARLOS D.
Cite as 300 Neb. 646
Appeal from the County Court for Lancaster County:
Holly J. Parsley, Judge. Reversed and remanded for further
proceedings.
David V. Chipman, of Monzón, Guerra & Associates, for
appellant.
Kevin Ruser and Morgan Nelson, Senior Certified Law
Student, of Immigration Clinical Law Program, University of
Nebraska College of Law, and Robert McEwen, Sarah Helvey,
and Allison Derr, Senior Certified Law Student, of Nebraska
Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest, for amici cur-
iae University of Nebraska Immigration Clinic and Nebraska
Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest.
Charles Shane Ellison, of Creighton Immigrant and Refugee
Clinic, Creighton University School of Law, for amici cur-
iae National Justice For Our Neighbors and Immigrant Legal
Center, an affiliate of Justice For Our Neighbors Network.
Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke, and
Papik, JJ., and Vaughan, District Judge.
Miller-Lerman, J.
NATURE OF CASE
Although the county court for Lancaster County appointed
Eleany Esmerelda Zunun Gonzalez as guardian of her juvenile
nephew, Carlos D., it declined to make special factual find-
ings that are necessary to apply for special immigrant juvenile
(SIJ) status under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J) (Supp. V 2018).
Following a hearing on Gonzalez’ motion to amend this initial
ruling, the county court stated in an order that Carlos was “not
dependent on this court” and that Gonzalez had not satisfied 8
U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J) and therefore denied Gonzalez’ motion
to make specific findings to be used in immigration proceed-
ings. Gonzalez appealed. During the pendency of this appeal,
the Nebraska Legislature amended Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-1238(b)
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(Reissue 2016) in 2018 Neb. Laws, L.B. 670, to clarify that
courts with jurisdiction over initial child custody determina-
tions under § 43-1238(a) also have “jurisdiction and authority”
to make special findings of fact similar to those contemplated
by 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J). Amendments to § 43-1238(b)
have gone into effect, and because they are procedural rules,
they apply to pending cases. In this case, the county court
made a custody determination under § 43-1238(a), but it erred
when it concluded Gonzalez had not satisfied the dependency
or custody component of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J) and refused
to make special findings on this basis. Accordingly, we reverse
the order of the county court and remand the cause for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion based on the exist-
ing record.
FACTS
Carlos was born in Guatemala in November 1998 and arrived
in Nebraska in 2015 at age 16 without any support or parental
supervision. On January 23, 2017, Gonzalez filed a petition for
the appointment of a permanent guardian for Carlos, her minor
nephew, in the county court for Lancaster County. The follow-
ing facts are taken from the petition and Carlos’ declaration,
which the county court found to be credible:
Carlos traveled to the United States by foot and public
transportation and arrived on or about April 27, 2015. Before
reaching Nebraska, Carlos was detained at the border by U.S.
Customs and Border Protection, but he was released to his
aunt, Gonzalez, who, according to U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement informa-
tion, lived in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Carlos’ declaration stated that he was born in Tacana de
San Marcos, Guatemala, and that he grew up with his mother,
stepfather, and three sisters. Carlos never knew his father and
denied having any contact with him. Carlos’ stepfather drank
almost every day and was verbally and physically abusive
toward Carlos, his sisters, and his mother. The stepfather would
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IN RE GUARDIANSHIP OF CARLOS D.
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punch Carlos’ mother in the mouth with a fist and pull her hair.
Two or three times a week, the stepfather hit Carlos and his
sisters with a belt or whatever item he would find in his path.
Verbal abuse happened daily. After 13 years, the stepfather
decided to leave and abandoned the family.
After Carlos’ mother became separated from the stepfather,
she began to reject Carlos. She would make comments to him
such as, “‘You’re a mistake/error in my life’” and “‘I don’t
want to see you and don’t care if you run away.’” Carlos’
mother would not feed him because she would be mad at him.
He became the “‘man’” of the home at age 8 and had to work
at a farm during the evenings after school to earn food for
the family. When Carlos was 10 years old, his mother would
not allow him to go to school, so that he could be employed
full time in order to sustain his mother and sisters. The work
that he was required to do was that of an adult man carrying
“heavy sacks.”
When Carlos was 13 years old, he began to be approached
by some members of the “‘MS 13’” gang. They would wait
for him after work to try to recruit him. At first, they were
friendly, but once he declined to join the gang, things changed.
The gang verbally harassed Carlos and then, after the third
encounter with the gang members, four or five gang members
who were heavily armed “beat up” Carlos because he declined
to join the gang. The assault included hitting Carlos with “big
wooden sticks” on the stomach and face and kicking him while
he was on the ground. One gang member used a knife and
cut Carlos on his right arm and each of his index fingers. The
members threatened Carlos that he would be killed if he did
not join.
Carlos stated that he was in fear for his life after the gang
had beaten him. He was anxious and always checking his sur-
roundings. He would try to find a different route to work and
to avoid the gang members. However, he would inevitably run
into them, and each time, he would be verbally abused, beat
up, “threatened with [his] life,” and robbed. He was robbed
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approximately 10 times, and each time, he had either a gun to
his head or a knife behind his back, or both.
Carlos fled Guatemala and was eventually united with
his aunt, Gonzalez. Carlos stated that his aunt provides him
with “all of [his] care and need, including food and a place
to live.”
The petition for guardianship alleged that Carlos’ father
abandoned him prior to birth and his mother had neglected
him in Guatemala. In addition to seeking a permanent guard-
ianship, the petition requested certain special findings that
“unification with [Carlos’] parents is not viable due to abuse
and neglect” and that “it would not be in [Carlos’] best
interests to be returned to Guatemala.” There is no dispute
that the county court had jurisdiction to hear the petition
for guardianship.
The matter came before the county court for hearing on
June 13, 2017. The county court received the declaration by
Carlos with details of his life and conditions in Guatemala.
At the hearing, the county court filed Gonzalez’ proof of
service to Carlos’ mother in her village in Guatemala and by
publication.
At the hearing, the county court stated it was not inclined to
make special findings regarding Carlos’ best interests “based
on a number of different things.” Gonzalez submitted a pro-
posed order which included special findings consistent with
8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J). The county court denied Gonzalez’
request for special findings. The county court entered a written
order appointing Gonzalez as Carlos’ guardian.
Gonzalez, on Carlos’ behalf, filed a motion to alter or amend
the judgment, requesting that the county court make the special
findings of fact contemplated in 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J).
Gonzalez sought special findings of fact from the state court
to potentially become eligible for SIJ status. SIJ status allows
a juvenile immigrant to remain in the United States and apply
for lawful permanent resident status. Obtaining the special
findings is the first step in the process to achieve SIJ status.
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To achieve SIJ status under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J), a state
court must have made a predicate finding that (1) the minor
is dependent on a juvenile court or has been “placed under
the custody of . . . an individual . . . appointed by a State or
juvenile court”; (2) “reunification with . . . the . . . parents is
not viable due to abuse, neglect, [or] abandonment”; and (3) it
would not be in the minor’s best interests to be returned to his
or her country of origin.
At the hearing on the motion to alter or amend the judg-
ment, the county court found Carlos’ declaration to be credible.
However, on September 2, 2017, the county court denied the
request for specific findings, stating in its order that Carlos is
“not dependent on this court.”
Gonzalez appeals.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Gonzalez generally claims that the county court erred when
it concluded that because Carlos was not dependent on the
county court, it could not make the requested special find-
ings. Gonzalez specifically claims that although it found a
need to appoint a permanent guardian, the county court erred
(1) when it failed to determine that Carlos was “declared
dependent” on the county court or “legally committed to,
or placed under the custody of, . . . an individual or entity
appointed by a . . . juvenile court” as these terms are defined
by 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J) and (2) when it refused to make
the requested findings of fact that (a) reunification with one
or both parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, or aban-
donment and (b) it would not be in Carlos’ best interests to
return to Guatemala.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1] Statutory interpretation presents a question of law. In
re Trust of Shire, 299 Neb. 25, 907 N.W.2d 263 (2018). We
independently review questions of law decided by a lower
court. Id.
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ANALYSIS
As we read the challenged order, the county court believed
that it did not have authority to make the special findings of
fact requested by Gonzalez. However, during the pendency
of this appeal, the Nebraska Legislature enacted 2018 Neb.
Laws, L.B. 670, which became effective on July 19, 2018, and
made clear, inter alia, that a county court making a guardian-
ship determination also has authority to make the special find-
ings necessary for the ward to establish a SIJ status. Below,
we set forth the statutory provisions applicable to the analysis
of this appeal.
Federal Definition of SIJ
Federal provisions allow a juvenile immigrant to apply
for SIJ status and seek lawful permanent residence if several
prerequisites are met. 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J) provides, in
pertinent part, that a “special immigrant” is
an immigrant who is present in the United States—
(i) who has been declared dependent on a juvenile
court located in the United States or whom such a court
has legally committed to, or placed under the custody of,
an agency or department of a State, or an individual or
entity appointed by a State or juvenile court located in
the United States, and whose reunification with 1 or both
of the immigrant’s parents is not viable due to abuse,
neglect, abandonment, or a similar basis found under
State law;
(ii) for whom it has been determined in administrative
or judicial proceedings that it would not be in the alien’s
best interest to be returned to the alien’s or parent’s pre-
vious country of nationality or country of last habitual
residence; and
(iii) in whose case the Secretary of Homeland Security
consents to the grant of [SIJ] status[.]
(Emphasis supplied.)
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In this case, Carlos was placed in the custody of Gonzalez
in fulfillment of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J)(i). In order to
achieve SIJ status, the individual whose custody has been
determined prior to age 21, 8 C.F.R. § 204.11 (2018), must
also obtain the judicial determinations listed above in 8 U.S.C.
§ 1101(a)(27)(J)(i) and (ii) from a “juvenile court,” as that
term is used in the federal provisions. The Code of Federal
Regulations defines “juvenile court” as “a court located in
the United States having jurisdiction under State law to make
judicial determinations about the custody and care of juve-
niles.” 8 C.F.R. § 204.11(a). As we explain below, a guard-
ianship of a child is a child custody determination, and
thus, the county court was considered a “juvenile court” for
purposes of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J)(i) and (ii). Courts
have generally held that a guardianship over a juvenile ren-
ders the juvenile subject to 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J)(i).
E.g., Jisun L. v. Young Sun P., 75 A.D.3d 510, 905 N.Y.S.2d
633 (2010).
State Law: L.B. 670 and
Child Custody Proceedings
[2,3] A Nebraska county court has exclusive original juris-
diction in all matters relating to the guardianship of a person,
subject to exceptions not applicable here. Neb. Rev. Stat.
§ 24-517(2) (Reissue 2016). Under Nebraska statutes and
jurisprudence, a guardianship of a child is a child custody
determination. In re Guardianship of D.J., 268 Neb. 239,
248, 682 N.W.2d 238, 246 (2004) (stating “[a] guardianship
is no more than a temporary custody arrangement estab-
lished for the well-being of a child”). See Neb. Rev. Stat.
§ 43-1227(4) (Reissue 2016) (concerning “a proceeding in
which legal custody, physical custody, or visitation with
respect to a child is an issue,” including a proceeding for
guardianship in which the issue may appear). Elsewhere, the
statutes provide that a “[c]hild custody determination means a
judgment, decree, or other order of a court providing for the
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legal custody, physical custody, or visitation with respect to a
child.” § 43-1227(3).
[4] As noted above, the recently enacted L.B. 670 amended
§ 43-1238(b) and clarifies that courts with jurisdiction over
an “initial child custody determination” as that term is used
in § 43-1238(a) also have jurisdiction and authority to make
special findings of fact similar to those contemplated by 8
U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J). Gonzalez sought a guardianship of
the minor Carlos in the county court, see Neb. Rev. Stat.
§ 30-2605 et seq. (Reissue 2016), and the county court’s
order declaring Gonzalez as guardian was an initial custody
determination.
Section 43-1238(a) generally deals with child custody deter-
minations which are appropriately raised in a court in Nebraska,
and § 43-1238(b), as amended, lists the factual findings which
can be made by a Nebraska state court with such initial child
custody determination authority and the circumstances under
which such courts must make such findings.
L.B. 670 amended § 43-1238, which now provides, with the
amended portion emphasized:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 43-1241, a
court of this state has jurisdiction to make an initial child
custody determination only if:
(1) this state is the home state of the child on the date
of the commencement of the proceeding or was the home
state of the child within six months before the commence-
ment of the proceeding and the child is absent from this
state but a parent or person acting as a parent continues
to live in this state;
(2) a court of another state does not have jurisdiction
under subdivision (a)(1) of this section, or a court of the
home state of the child has declined to exercise jurisdic-
tion on the ground that this state is the more appropriate
forum under section 43-1244 or 43-1245, and:
(A) the child and the child’s parents, or the child and
at least one parent or a person acting as a parent, have
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a significant connection with this state other than mere
physical presence; and
(B) substantial evidence is available in this state con-
cerning the child’s care, protection, training, and personal
relationships;
(3) all courts having jurisdiction under subdivision
(a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section have declined to exercise
jurisdiction on the ground that a court of this state is the
more appropriate forum to determine the custody of the
child under section 43-1244 or 43-1245; or
(4) no court of any other state would have jurisdiction
under the criteria specified in subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2), or
(a)(3) of this section.
(b) Subsection (a) of this section is the exclusive juris-
dictional basis for making a child custody determination
by a court of this state. In addition to having jurisdic-
tion to make judicial determinations about the custody
and care of the child, a court of this state with exclusive
jurisdiction under subsection (a) of this section has juris-
diction and authority to make factual findings regarding
(1) the abuse, abandonment, or neglect of the child, (2)
the nonviability of reunification with at least one of the
child’s parents due to such abuse, abandonment, neglect,
or a similar basis under state law, and (3) whether it
would be in the best interests of such child to be removed
from the United States to a foreign country, including
the child’s country of origin or last habitual residence.
If there is sufficient evidence to support such factual
findings, the court shall issue an order containing such
findings when requested by one of the parties or upon the
court’s own motion.
(Emphasis omitted.) (Emphasis supplied.)
[5-7] Generally, legislation that is passed takes effect 3 cal-
endar months after the Legislature adjourns, see Neb. Const.
art. III, § 27, unless the Legislature evidences otherwise.
Smith v. Mark Chrisman Trucking, 285 Neb. 826, 829 N.W.2d
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717 (2013). Thus, L.B. 670 became operative on July 19,
2018, 3 calendar months after the adjournment of the legis-
lative session on April 18. In considering whether to apply
§ 43-1238(b), as amended, to this case, we note that procedural
amendments to statutes are ordinarily applicable to pending
cases, while substantive amendments are not. Smith v. Mark
Chrisman Trucking, supra. This is because a substantive right
is one which creates a right or remedy that did not previously
exist and which, but for the creation of the substantive right,
would not entitle one to recover. Id. A procedural amendment,
on the other hand, simply changes the method by which an
already existing right is exercised. Id. Put another way, a sub-
stantive law commonly creates duties, rights, and obligations
of a party, whereas a procedural law prescribes the means and
methods through and by which substantive laws are enforced
and applied. See In re Interest of Clifford M. et al., 261 Neb.
862, 626 N.W.2d 549 (2001).
[8] Section 43-1238(b), as amended, instructs a court with
the jurisdictional basis of a child custody determination under
§ 43-1238(a) that it has the authority to also make fac-
tual findings, where requested and where there is sufficient
evidence to support the findings. Because this amendment
merely clarifies the authority and procedure for making the
factual findings in a case involving child custody, we con-
clude that the addition to § 43-1238(b) in L.B. 670 is a state
court procedural amendment and applies to pending cases.
A statute requiring a court to make explicit findings of fact
on the record is procedural. See, e.g., Zahl v. Zahl, 273 Neb.
1043, 736 N.W.2d 365 (2007) (characterizing explicit findings
regarding custody as procedural); In re Interest of J.S., A.C.,
and C.S., 227 Neb. 251, 417 N.W.2d 147 (1987) (characteriz-
ing specific findings of fact supporting parental rehabilitative
plan as procedural). Any substantive effect of these findings
is a result of federal law in that these findings are a requi-
site to SIJ status. But the fact that these findings may have
some substantive effect as a matter of federal law does not
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transform the state law before us into substantive legislation.
For completeness, we note that making findings for SIJ sta-
tus purposes has long been accepted by the Nebraska courts,
and § 43-1238(b), as amended, codifies this practice. See,
e.g., In re Interest of Erick M., 284 Neb. 340, 820 N.W.2d
639 (2012); In re Interest of Luis G., 17 Neb. Ct. App. 377, 764
N.W.2d 648 (2009).
Statutory interpretation presents a question of law. In re
Trust of Shire, 299 Neb. 25, 907 N.W.2d 263 (2018). Section
43-1238(b) as amended provides that when requested by one
of the parties or upon the court’s own motion, such a court
“shall issue” an order containing the enumerated findings
where there is sufficient evidence. Given the language of the
amendments, we conclude that under § 43-1238(b), a court
with jurisdiction to make an initial child custody determination
under § 43-1238(a) can make factual findings regarding the
three factors enumerated in § 43-1238(b).
As explained above, the county court in this case made an
initial child custody determination when it granted Gonzalez
a guardianship over the minor Carlos. Carlos had been placed
in the custody of an individual—Gonzalez—in satisfaction
of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J)(i), and the county court’s deter-
mination to the contrary was error. The county court has the
authority to make findings outlined in § 43-1238(b). Although
we reverse the county court’s order of September 2, 2017, we
express no opinion of the impact upon remand of Neb. Rev.
Stat. § 30-2614 (Reissue 2016), providing for the termina-
tion of a guardian’s authority upon the minor’s attainment
of majority.
CONCLUSION
In this guardianship case, the suitability of appoint-
ing Gonzalez as guardian for Carlos is not at issue in this
appeal. The evidence submitted by Carlos has been deemed
credible. The county court erred when it concluded it had
not made a custody determination for purposes of 8 U.S.C.
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§ 1101(a)(27)(J)(i). Section 43-1238(b), as amended, applies
to pending cases. A county court with a jurisdictional basis
under § 43-1238(a) and which has made an initial child cus-
tody determination, such as appointing a guardian, has author-
ity under § 43-1238(b) to make factual findings regarding
the enumerated items where the evidence is sufficient and
the court has been requested to do so. The enumerated items
are similar to the immigration-related findings in 8 U.S.C.
§ 1101(a)(27)(J). Thus, we reverse the order of September 2,
2017, and remand the cause for further proceedings consistent
with this opinion based on the existing record.
R eversed and remanded for
further proceedings.