2025 Guide for Parents Facing Deportation Amid Expanded ICE Enforcement

Families living in the United States 🇺🇸 with at least one parent who is not a U.S. citizen face a difficult and uncertain time. Recent changes in immigration enforcement, especially those involving ICE, have made it more important than ever for parents at risk of deportation or detention to understand what to expect and how to prepare. This guide walks through the entire process, step by step, so families can take action, protect their children, and know what to expect from authorities at each stage.

Understanding the Current Situation

In 2025, the United States 🇺🇸 government has made major changes to immigration enforcement. There is now a much larger budget for ICE, more detention centers, and new rules that make it easier and faster to deport people. These changes especially affect parents and children, including those who are U.S. citizens but have at least one parent who is not. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these policies have led to more families being separated and more children being left without their parents.

One of the most important things to know is that ICE is now focusing on deporting children who came to the United States 🇺🇸 without their parents, as well as the adults who care for them. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) helps take care of these children, but new rules require all adults in the home to be fingerprinted. This has made some people afraid to come forward and help these children, which can mean longer stays in detention for the kids.

Step 1: Prepare Important Documents

The first step for any parent at risk of deportation or detention is to gather all important documents. This includes:

• Passports and birth certificates for all family members
• Immigration papers (such as visas, green cards, or work permits)
• Court documents if you have any ongoing cases
• Custody or guardianship papers for your children
• Contact information for your lawyer, family members, and trusted friends

Keep these documents in a safe place where a trusted person can find them if you are detained. Make copies and give them to someone you trust. This will help your family act quickly if you are taken into custody.

Step 2: Find Legal Help Right Away

If you think you are at risk, it is very important to talk to a lawyer who understands immigration law. A lawyer can explain your rights, help you understand if you have any way to stay in the United States 🇺🇸, and guide you through the process if you are detained. Many legal aid organizations offer free or low-cost help. You can find a list of these organizations on the U.S. Department of Justice’s accredited representatives page.

If you are detained, you have the right to call your lawyer. Make sure your children and trusted adults know how to contact your lawyer, too.

Step 3: Arrange Guardianship or Custody for Your Children

One of the hardest parts of deportation is deciding what will happen to your children. If you are detained or deported, you need to have a plan for who will take care of them. This is especially important if your children are U.S. citizens or if you have children who are not citizens but are living with you.

• Choose a trusted adult who can care for your children if you are not able to.
• Complete legal guardianship or custody papers so this person can make decisions for your children.
• Talk to your children about what might happen and who will care for them.

ICE is supposed to let you make these arrangements before you are deported, but sometimes things move quickly. Having everything ready ahead of time will help protect your children.

Step 4: Make a Communication Plan

If you are detained, it can be hard to stay in touch with your family. Make a plan now so everyone knows what to do:

• Share important phone numbers with your children and trusted adults.
• Teach your children how to call your lawyer or another trusted adult.
• Choose a meeting place where your family can go if you are detained.

Let your children’s school and caregivers know who to contact if you are not available. This will help keep your children safe and make sure they are not left alone.

Step 5: Know Your Rights During ICE Encounters

If ICE comes to your home or stops you in public, you have rights. Here’s what you need to know:

• You do not have to open the door unless ICE shows a signed warrant from a judge.
• You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status.
• You have the right to speak to a lawyer.
• Do not sign any papers without talking to a lawyer first.

If you are detained, ask for a copy of any paperwork and keep it safe. This will help your lawyer fight your case.

Step 6: Understand Expedited Removal and What It Means

In 2025, the government expanded a process called “expedited removal.” This means that ICE can deport people who have been in the United States 🇺🇸 for less than two years without a hearing in front of a judge. This process is much faster and gives you less time to fight your case.

• If you have been in the United States 🇺🇸 for more than two years, try to keep proof of this with you at all times (like rent receipts, school records, or pay stubs).
• If you are put into expedited removal, ask to speak to a lawyer right away.

Knowing about expedited removal can help you act quickly if you are detained.

Step 7: Connect with Support Services

Many organizations can help you and your family during this difficult time. These include:

• Legal aid groups that can help with your case
• Community organizations that offer food, shelter, and other support
• Advocacy groups that fight for immigrant rights

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is responsible for helping children who come to the United States 🇺🇸 without their parents. If your child is taken into custody, ORR will try to find a safe place for them. However, new rules require all adults in the home to be fingerprinted, which can make it harder for families to come forward.

Step 8: What to Expect If Detained by ICE

If you are detained by ICE, you will likely be taken to a detention center. The government has built many new centers, and reports show that some are overcrowded and have problems with food and medical care. Here’s what happens next:

• You will be processed and given a “Notice to Appear” in immigration court, unless you are put into expedited removal.
• You may be allowed to call your family and lawyer.
• You will have a chance to ask for bond (money paid to get out of detention while your case is decided), but this is not always granted.
• If you have children, ICE is supposed to let you arrange care for them.

It is important to stay calm and ask for help from your lawyer and trusted contacts.

Step 9: Deportation and What Happens After

If you are ordered deported, you may have only a short time to say goodbye to your family. ICE is supposed to let you make arrangements for your children, but once you are deported, it becomes much harder to take part in custody cases or reunite with your children. You may need to work with your country’s consulate and U.S. agencies to try to bring your children to you or to stay in touch.

• If your children are U.S. citizens, they have the right to stay in the United States 🇺🇸.
• If your children are not citizens, you will need to decide if they should stay or leave with you.

This is a very hard decision, and it is important to talk to a lawyer and trusted family members.

Step 10: Stay Informed and Advocate for Your Family

Immigration laws and policies change often. Stay up to date by checking official sources like the ICE website and talking to your lawyer. Advocacy groups like the American Immigration Council can also provide updates and help you understand your rights.

Estimated Timeframes for Each Step

• Preparing documents and making a plan: 1-2 weeks
• Finding legal help: As soon as possible, ideally before any ICE contact
• Arranging guardianship: 1-2 weeks, but start early
• Communication planning: 1-2 days
• ICE encounter and detention: Can happen suddenly, with little warning
• Expedited removal process: As little as a few days to a few weeks
• Deportation and post-removal: Varies; reunification with children can take months or longer

What to Expect from Authorities

• ICE officers may come to your home or workplace with or without a warrant.
• If detained, you may be moved to a center far from your home.
• ICE is supposed to let you make arrangements for your children, but this does not always happen smoothly.
• The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) will care for unaccompanied children, but new fingerprinting rules may make it harder for families to reunite.

Practical Tips for Parents

• Keep a “go bag” with important documents, medicines, and contact information.
• Talk to your children in age-appropriate ways about what might happen.
• Write down your wishes for your children’s care and give copies to trusted adults.
• Stay connected with community groups for support and updates.

Looking Ahead

The current focus on enforcement and deportation is expected to continue through 2025 and possibly beyond. Many groups are working to change these policies, but for now, it is important to be prepared and to know your rights. If you or someone you know is at risk, take action now to protect your family.

Key Takeaways

• Act early: The sooner you prepare, the better you can protect your children.
• Know your rights: Understanding what ICE can and cannot do helps you stay safe.
• Get legal help: A lawyer is your best ally in fighting detention or deportation.
• Use official resources: Stay informed through trusted government and advocacy group websites.

By following these steps and staying informed, parents at risk of deportation or detention can take important actions to keep their families safe and together as much as possible during these challenging times.