What does it mean for a child to have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by their parent(s)?

The SIJS regulations do not define these terms, so relevant state laws must be consulted to determine what counts as abuse, neglect, or abandonment. For example, in Illinois, a caretaker has neglected a child if they failed to provide food, shelter, or economic support for the past 8 years or had substantially no relationship with the minor child since the child was three years old.