Get Prepared & Stay Protected

Essential planning to prepare for immigration enforcement and other emergencies.

In an uncertain time, the best way to stay protected is to get prepared.  

This page provides the tools and guidance you need to develop emergency plans, ensure your family's wellbeing, and protect important documents. 

Immediate action

5 things you can do now to protect yourself and your loved ones: 

  1. Know Your Rights in various situations

  2. Seek a Legal Consultation

  3. Create a Family Emergency Plan

  4. Collect your Documents in a Safe Place 

  5. Avoid Immigration Fraud and Digital Scams

Create a family Emergency Plan

Start a family emergency plan and talk to your children or dependents about it to ensure everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency. See a step-by-step guide on how to develop a plan for yourself and your family: 

Consider Guardianship Options

You should think about who will care for your children if you are detained or deported. This is an essential part of safety planning. However, not everyone will need a court-appointed legal guardian. You should be aware that a guardianship will give the guardian the right to make decisions concerning your children, including whether to allow your children to see you. It may be difficult to terminate a guardianship if you change your mind. You should consult with an attorney before seeking a guardianship.

Learn more about things you should consider when deciding if you want to pursue a potential guardianship for your family: 

Guardianship documents allow you to legally designate a trusted adult to care for your children if you are unable to do so. These documents can specify who will make decisions about your children’s education, healthcare, and daily needs.

Learn more about short-term guardianship from Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO):

(available in English & Spanish)

Protect your assets

Learn more about steps to take to protect your financial assets and consider establishing a financial power of attorney:

  • A Power of Attorney document is a written document that grants a designated person (your “Agent”) authority to act on behalf of the person giving the power of attorney in some matters. The authority of the Agent may be broad or limited and may allow decisions regarding finances, medical treatment, and/or property. A power of attorney is not a standardized, “one size fits all” form. Power of attorneys are not guardianships and an Agent who has authority under a power of attorney is usually not authorized to care for or make decisions on behalf of one’s children.

  • Not everyone needs a power of attorney. Each person should consider whether a power of attorney is right for them based on their individual circumstances. A power of attorney may be useful because it can be used to allow a trusted friend or family member to access your bank account. If you do not have a bank account in the United States or other substantial financial assets, there may not be a compelling reason to complete a power of attorney. Many banks allow customers to manage their accounts from outside the United States, so if someone is deported, they will generally be able to access their resources from abroad.