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Introduction: “I Have Children and I’m Afraid I’ll Be Detained or Deported”

It is a scary time for immigrants and their families, especially if you have children and are at risk of being detained or deported by immigration authorities. It is normal to be worried and feel overwhelmed. But there are steps you can take now if you are worried you may be detained in the future, including making plans for who will care for your children. While there is no guarantee that a care plan for your children will be followed if you are detained or deported, it is more likely that your wishes for your children’s care will be followed when there is a plan in place than when there is no plan in place. 

This is a website with information for immigrants with children who may be at risk of being detained by immigration authorities or deported from the United States and want to know how they can plan for their children’s care if they are arrested, detained, or deported. Again, while there is no guarantee that your plan for your children will be followed, it may be extremely difficult to make a plan for their care once you are detained or deported. 

This website gives you a map to figuring out what care plan for your children may work best for your family. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the information now, as it may be extremely difficult if not impossible for you to access this information from immigration detention.

How to use this website: you can read through the entire thing, or you can jump to the specific scenario that applies to you now. Remember, it is important to read this information beforehand so you know what to do if you are detained, because you may not have access to this website or its information in detention.  

DISCLAIMER: This information is intended to help you better understand and navigate detention and deportation as a parent and the child welfare system. It is not intended as legal advice. If you have questions about specific parts of your immigration or child welfare legal case, it is important that you talk with a lawyer.

Go to next section: If You Are at Risk of Detention or Deportation