[QUOTE] Who Cares for Children of Deported Parents? This Priest Has Signed Up to Take On 31.

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"Maryland has one of the nation’s best standby guardianship laws for undocumented immigrants, said Priya Baskaran, a law professor at American University who studies these statutes. It is one of only nine jurisdictions nationwide — eight states and D.C. — whose standby guardianship laws are immediately invoked when a detention or deportation occurs. This is what’s called a triggering event for the statute.

However, undocumented families in states with laws that don’t explicitly consider immigration enforcement as a triggering event may still be able to use the law, Baskaran said.

But “if it’s not explicitly protected in the statute itself, it’s kind of a gamble,” she added.

And while Maryland allows standby guardians to assume custody without court intervention for up to six months, many other states require papers to be filed in court before the guardianship can begin. That presents more than an administrative burden for undocumented families, Baskaran said.

The Trump administration has changed many immigration enforcement rules, and “what used to be undeniable sanctuary spaces like churches, hospitals, schools and courthouses no longer feel safe,” Baskaran said. “People are more at risk, and so they’re less willing to go to court.”"

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