Code Switch

Fearing deportation, undocumented parents are preparing to leave their kids behind

6 snips
Nov 22, 2025
Jasmine Garsd, an NPR immigration reporter, shares poignant stories of immigrant families in Washington, D.C. grappling with the threat of deportation. She reveals how parents are making heartbreaking plans for emergency guardianship, ensuring their children are cared for if they are forcibly removed. Jasmine introduces the American guardian willing to step in and discusses the emotional toll on families living under the constant fear of ICE. The growing demand for legal preparations highlights the urgency and complexity of securing children's futures.
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INSIGHT

Paperwork Restores Some Control

  • Parents said emergency guardianship gave them a small sense of control amid fear of deportation.
  • That arrangement also reinforced feelings that neighbors and community members care and will watch out for their kids.
ANECDOTE

Neighbor Steps In For Teen's Care

  • A Honduran couple hiding from ICE asked a longtime friend to become emergency guardian for their U.S.-born 17-year-old son.
  • The American family accepted immediately and prepared legally to keep the teen in school and safe if parents are detained.
ANECDOTE

Teen Continues School While Parents Hide

  • The Honduran parents have sheltered at home while their U.S.-born son continues to attend high school alone.
  • They discussed options with their son, who suggested asking his longtime friend's family for help if his parents were deported.
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