Family Preparedness

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Are you worried about what might happen to your children if you are detained by immigration or deported? What if you have a serious medical condition and you’re not able to care for them? There are steps you can take to make sure that your family is prepared, and that your children are cared for by someone you trust if you are unable to care for them yourself.

Prepare for Possible Immigration Detention or Deportation

Guides

These guides provide information on steps to take to prepare your family in case you are detained or deported.
 

• National Immigrant Justice Center: What to Do if You or a Loved One Is Detained (August 2025):
  • English, Spanish, Arabic, French, Haitian Creole
• ​National Immigration Law Center: How to Find a Loved One After a U.S. Immigration Arrest. Available in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Chinese - Simplified, Chinese - Traditional, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic
• Informed Immigrant (English) (Español)
• People's Law Library of Maryland: Family Safety Planning
  • Part 1: how to choose a caregiver
  • Part 2: what documents to prepare. 
• Appleseed Network: Deportation Manual for Immigrant Families (June 2025)
  • English (pdf, 198 pages)
  • Español (pdf, 203 páginas)

Tools

Forms to keep track of your family's important information or update emergency contacts

• Montgomery County HHS: Emergency Family File (English) (Español)
• Montgomery County Public Schools: MCPS Form 565-1

​Apps to send out notifications to your emergency contacts if you encounter ICE

• United We Dream's Notifica App 

Protect Your Children

• The Standby Guardianship Project (English) (Español): 240-535-5966 
  • Learn how to legally designate someone to take care of your child if you are in danger of being detained, deported, or have serious health issues. Having a standby guardian will prevent your child from entering the foster care system if you are unable to care for them.
  • The Standby Guardianship Project helps you take steps to prepare for:
    • Creating a Family Plan
    • Identifying a caretaker
    • Completing the Form
    • filing Petition by Standby Guardian if parent needs standby guardian after 180 days, and more
• Maryland Court Form for designating a standby guardian
• Women's Refugee Commission:
  • Make a Plan: Essential Steps for Migrant Parents for Preventing Family Separation (June 2025)
  • Detained or Deported. What about my children. What to do if you can't be with them. (pdf, 111 pages)