Immigrant families across the United States are facing tough choices as they try to prepare for or avoid encounters with immigration authorities. Some have left the country after decades of building lives here, while others have considered giving up their unborn child for adoption so the baby could have a better future.

Fear and Uncertainty

Parents are naming guardians for their children in case they are detained or deported, and some have stopped working, shopping, or even leaving home, relying on neighbors and churches for support. The choices are deeply personal and often irreversible.

Emma Confesor, a 39-year-old mother from Mexico, considered placing her unborn child up for adoption due to uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship. However, after the Supreme Court ruled that the 14th Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship, Confesor felt relieved.

Contingency Plans

Many immigrant parents are making contingency plans in case they are detained or deported. In Maryland, a Salvadoran mother signed legal papers naming a priest as temporary guardian of her 7-year-old son. Some families have already been forced into separation, with over 100 US citizen children left without their parents after immigration enforcement actions.

In some cases, entire families are choosing to leave the country together. Julio Mendoza, an undocumented Mexican immigrant, and his American wife, Sasha, are moving to Mexico with their three US-born children to avoid the risk of separation.

Churches and communities are also stepping in to support immigrant families. In Chicago, a United Methodist pastor reported that fear has changed the rhythms of her community, with many immigrants staying home from work and avoiding public places. Some churches have moved services online, and congregations are helping families with groceries and school pickups.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.