It is not unusual for individuals with no legal immigration status to give birth to U.S. citizen children. In fact, there are about five million children under the age of 18 who have at least one parent with no legal immigration status. As a result, many single parents live in fear of deportation these days, simply because there will be no one to care for their children. Likewise, families in which both parents are without legal immigration status and have U.S. citizen children have the same concerns. If both parents are deported, what will happen to their U.S. citizen children, especially if they are detained for a period of time pending deportation proceedings? This question is particularly pertinent for individuals in the state of California; statistics from the Pew Research Center indicate that 10% of the 11.1 million immigrants who live in the U.S. live in Los Angeles and Orange Counties in California alone. The answer to this question is – it depends. Every situation is different, and how families choose to deal with the situation varies widely. Some parents who face deportation will leave their children in the U.S., in care of relatives. Other parents will take their children with them, or leave them with a relative or friend until they return to their home countries and can send for their children. There are some general pieces of advice, however, that apply to everyone facing this incredibly difficult situation. First, you should make a plan to put into action in case one or both parents are deported. You also should meet with an experienced immigration lawyer in order to go over your legal options. Next, gather important documents for your children, such as birth certificates, social security cards, health insurance cards, medical records, immunization records, passports, and other similar documents, and place them in a safe place where a close relative or friend can access them in case of an emergency. You can execute legal documents designating certain people as guardians of your children in the event that you are deported. There also are documents that you can sign that allow a relative or friend to obtain medical care for your child, if necessary. At Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C., we care about you and your family, and want to help you preserve your home in the United States. We focus our law practice solely on deportation defense cases, which allows us to expend all of our efforts in standing up for the rights of those who are facing potential deportation, including those who are seeking asylum. Our California deportation defense lawyers know how to gather persuasive evidence to support your case, as well as how to satify all of the procedural ins and outs of the U.S. immigration system. Allow us to handle your deportation case by contacting us today to schedule your legal consultation.