The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday ruled juvenile courts cannot reject immigrant children's petitions for dependency without giving them a chance to present evidence.

The 4-3 ruling came with four separate opinions, showing a variety of thoughts on a divisive issue that two justices said needs “immediate legislative attention and clarification.”

Florida judges, particularly in Miami-Dade County, have seen a flood of dependency petitions from children seeking permanent U.S. residency. In recent years, “dozens, if not hundreds” of those petitions have been denied without an evidentiary hearing, according to University of Miami law professor Bernard Perlmutter, who co-directs the school's Children & Youth Law Clinic.