Year over year there are immigrant parents being deported who have to leave their U.S. citizen children behind. ICE has studies showing the number of parents who have to leave their children behind due to deportation from the years 2015-2017:
2015 - There were 31,411 parents who had to leave their children behind.
2016 - There were 28,860 parents who had to leave their children behind.
2017 - There were 27,080 parents who had to leave their children behind.
There is no information available yet for 2018, however, many people project for it to be the highest year yet. This is a growing concern for many immigrant families, and many are wondering,
“What will happen to my children if I am detained or deported?”
Advanced Planning Options
If you’ve been pursuing U.S. citizenship, this may be a very real fear you have. The thought of being taken away from your children, never knowing what happens to them is what nightmares are made of. With recent changes, immigrants may now designate a legal guardian to protect their children in the event of detainment or deportation.
The Standby Guardianship law allows individuals to designate an individual to take over as a legal guardian of their children in the event that they are detained or deported. While this may not stop the problem completely, it will ensure that there are proper steps in place to ensure your children are able to live with someone you choose, instead of getting put into the foster care system.
Maney | Gordon | Zeller Can Help
If you’ve been worrying about this situation becoming a reality, our team at Maney Gordon Zeller would love the opportunity to discuss your situation. We can help guide you in the right direction and answer any questions you may have to ensure that you have a plan in place to protect your children in the event that something happens.
For more information, or to schedule your free consultation, call (800) 708-4399 today.
