How to Plan Ahead to Protect Your Children in Texas If You Are Deported
Being deported is scary, but if you have children it can be even scarier. Advanced planning can ensure that your children are protected if you are deported.Texas is just one of the many states looking to outlaw sanctuary cities as indicated in this article Texas Is About to Crack Down on Undocumented Immigrants.
First, decide if you want your children to come live with you in your home Country, or if you want them to remain in the U.S. Neither of these scenarios is automatic if you do not take steps to plan for them in advance. Rather, if you have not made any advance plans, it is possible that the State could take custody of your children, terminate your parental rights, and decide what happens to your children without you having any say in the matter. When this happens children often end up in foster care and are sometimes even put up for adoption. But you can prevent this with advanced planning.
Who will take care of your children, selecting a conservator
Next, pick someone you trust to take care of your children. This could be an older child or another family member, or a trusted friend who is willing to step into care for the children in your absence. Make sure you pick someone who is capable of caring for your children for an extended time, perhaps permanently. Also, particularly if you want the person to bring the children to visit you while you are in detention, make sure the person does not have any immigration issues of their own.
Once you have selected a caregiver for your children, you need to give them Power of Attorney to care for your children. This document should specifically state what decisions you are allowing the person to make regarding your children. A Power of Attorney can also be used to give the caregiver access to your U.S. based assets, such as a bank account or house, to use to take care of the kids. You may also need to prepare a special Power of Attorney to allow the person to make healthcare decisions about your children.
Can my children travel outside the United State to see me
If you have decided to have your children join you in your home country, you will need to obtain U.S. Passports for the children. You will also need to give the caregiver a letter of permission for the children to travel. .The letter must be signed by both parents and notarized. Airlines will not allow children to travel with non-parents internationally without the signed and notarized letter of permission.
Finally, if you want your children to stay in the United States after you are deported you may be able to make advanced arrangements for your selected caregiver to have legal custody of your children. This requires a separate court proceeding. But if you are unable to arrange a change in legal custody in advance, the Power of Attorney along with a letter stating that you want the individual to have custody in the event you are deported will go a long way helping the caregiver obtain custody once you have left the Country.
Take the First Step, Protect Your Children in Texas
Remember taking these steps before you are detained and deported will help make sure that you have a say in how your children are cared for during and after the deportation process. If you would like help in making sure that you take all the steps necessary to protect your children before you are deported, contact America Family Law Center or call/text 713-239-5200 or contact the Texas Lawyer Referral Services or call/text l713-510-7100.
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