This petition is deeply personal, and it starts with the story of the Joseph family and their son, Aaron, who is currently facing an unthinkable situation. Aaron Joseph, a 26-year-old with an intellectual disability, deeply relies on his family to live a life of dignity and stability.

The Joseph family moved to the United States in 2023 after being granted permanent residency. However, despite their efforts to secure a stable and inclusive life for Aaron, his Adjustment of Status application was denied on December 20th, 2024, on the grounds of aging out following the old CSPA policy where Final Action date is taken to lock in Aaron’s age and not Filing date as per policy change made in February 2023 to calculate the CSPA age. This older policy was superseded in February 2023 to address situations exactly like Aaron’s, yet his case was still evaluated under the previous standard.

As a result, Aaron has been deemed to have “aged out” of eligibility, despite the fact that the updated CSPA policy clearly intended to prevent such outcomes. The denial notice from USCIS has given him only 33 days before deportation proceedings begin, leaving the Joseph family with very little time to act on his behalf.

This looming deportation is devastating. Aaron’s intellectual disability makes him entirely dependent on his family for his daily needs, emotional support, and stability. Forcing Aaron to leave his family and the only support system he knows is inhumane and directly contradicts the principles of compassion and equity that the United States stands for.

Aaron’s plight highlights a broader issue. According to a 2017 report by the Migration Policy Institute, approximately 5% of immigrants in the United States are disabled or have a family member with a disability. Deportations like Aaron’s threaten to tear apart families, destabilizing the lives of the most vulnerable members of our society.

It is imperative that immigration authorities reconsider their decision to deny Aaron’s Adjustment of Status. This is not just about one family; it’s about ensuring dignity and stability for countless others in similar circumstances. Every individual, regardless of their disability, deserves to live without the constant fear of separation from their loved ones.

We urge you to stand with the Joseph family and countless others by calling on policymakers to apply the updated CSPA policy and prevent Aaron’s deportation. Let’s ensure that families like the Josephs can stay together and that individuals with disabilities are treated with the compassion and respect they deserve.

Please sign this petition to send a powerful message: keep families whole and protect the rights of disabled dependents in the immigration system.