House Proposes Immigration Reform to Keep Families Together

Children of immigrants are the forgotten victims of deportation and often thrust into the foster system, torn away from their families. According to social justice magazine ColorLines, in 2011, 5,000 American born children entered the foster system following the detention or deportation of their immigrant parents.

In order to combat this growing problem, the house has proposed a bill that would make it harder for federal and state government to take away the parental rights of immigrants. The bill H.R. 6128 would, “ensure that immigration status alone does not disqualify a parent, legal guardian or relative from being a placement for a foster child, to prohibit a State, county, or other political affiliate in a State from  terminating parental rights…. ”

Immigrant parents, whose immigration attorneys could not prevent deportation, sometimes chose to take their children with them, but others place their children with relatives and often these children are placed in foster care.

Once a child enters the foster care system, the immigrants often lose their parental rights. As an immigration detainee these parents are unable to attend case meetings or court proceedings related to their children. By missing these important meetings and crucial deadlines these parents can lose their parental rights.

Read the entire text of the bill here: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h6128/text.

Illegal immigration has many unintended consequences. By entering the country without the necessary legal documents, immigrants risk deportation and the possibility of losing their children. But not all undocumented immigrants will be deported, especially if they have a savvy immigration lawyer working with them and presenting a solid defense in court.

Legal entry into the states is the surest way to retain all of your rights and be recognized as a legitimate citizen. Immigration attorneys make it easier for an immigrant to get the necessary visas or green cards which will allow them to stay with their families and children.