Have a plan in case of immigration arrest

Gather your paperwork

1. Gather key documents and keep them in a safe place. This includes documents that show how long you have been in the U.S.  You may need this to prove you have a right to see an immigration judge before ICE can decide to deport you.

2. Make copies of your documents and give them to a friend or relative you trust.

3. Memorize the phone number of a family member and immigration lawyer who knows your situation. Find free immigration legal service providers in your area.

4. Make a list of personal information your family will need in case you are detained.

5. Keep a list of family or friends in your native country. Your family in the U.S. may want to alert them if you are deported.

6. Tell your family about the ICE Detainee Locator. If you are detained, your family can use the website to find you. They can also call ICE at (212) 264-5085.

Arrange care for your child

1. Talk to your children about your plan for what will happen to them if you are detained or deported. Teach your children what do if they come home and you are not there.

2. Identify someone you trust to take care of your children, and give that person formal permission to make decisions for them. Complete this form to show schools and doctors that this person has permission to prove make decisions about your child. Sign it in front of a notary.

3. Make a list of important information for each child.

4. Update school information. Make sure your child’s school, child care provider, or summer camp has an up-to-date list and contact information of the people who can pick up your child.

5. If you can, start putting money aside to help pay for things your child may need.

Set your child up to travel

1. Get your child a passport now. Your child needs a passport to travel outside the U.S.

• If your child is a U.S. citizen, use this form to request a U.S. passport.
• If your child is a dual citizen (a citizen of the U.S. and another country), get a passport from both countries. Contact the consulate of the other country for how to get a child's passport.
• If your child is not a U.S. citizen, contact your consulate for instructions on how to get a passport.

Parental consent (permission) to get a passport for a child who is under 18:

• If you are a single parent who does not need permission from the other parent, explain why and provide proof. For example:
  • the court order granting you sole custody,
  • a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate listing you as the sole parent, or
  • a certified copy of the death certificate of the other parent.
• Otherwise, both parents have to give permission for a child's passport. It's easiest if both parents to go with the child to apply.
  • If one of the parents cannot go, they must 
    • fill out this Statement of Consent form. It is good for three months after it's signed and notarized.
    • sign the form in front of a notary  
    • provide a photocopy of his or her identification together with the consent form. 
• If you are NOT a single parent, but you can’t find the other parent or get their consent, fill out this form explaining why.

2. Parental permission for your child to travel alone. The child must have a travel permission form to show they are allowed to travel alone or without a parent.  Each parent should sign the form. If one parent does not sign the form, explain why. Sign in front of a notary.

3. Check the airline’s requirements for children traveling without their parents. Each airline has its own policy for children traveling without their parents. 

4. Organize travel documents in a secure folder. If your child will travel outside the United States without a parent, they need their original birth certificate, passport and copies of the documents listed on the travel permission form.