Maryland Priest Becomes Standby Guardian for 31 Children of Immigrant Parents Facing Deportation

Rev. Vidal Rivas, an Episcopal priest in suburban Washington, has stepped forward to serve as the standby guardian for 31 children whose immigrant parents fear detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Two additional families are making similar arrangements with him.

Rivas, 62, has taken on this role after personally witnessing the impact of parental detention. Earlier this year, he cared for the two young children of a mother who was detained by ICE for four months. During their mother's absence, Rivas' wife provided care, and when she became ill, Rivas took on more responsibility, including sleeping beside the children to comfort them.

"I feel a lot of responsibility, and a very heavy weight," Rivas said. "It's not easy for parents to know that they could be arrested and their children could be left [in the U.S.] without them."

His commitment to the families stems from his own background as a Salvadoran immigrant and his service at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, where a sign proclaims, "We love migrants" in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

Standby Guardianship Under Maryland Law

Maryland law allows parents to designate a standby guardian who can assume legal guardianship for up to six months in the event of detention or deportation. This provision was enacted in 2018, and similar laws have since been passed in Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, California, Nevada, and Washington D.C.

Rivas began encouraging families to name him as a standby guardian last year, coinciding with heightened concerns about the potential end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadorans. TPS provides protection from deportation and work authorization for individuals from countries experiencing turmoil. El Salvador was the first country designated for TPS in 1990, and the status has been renewed multiple times since, protecting over 170,000 Salvadorans.

The Trump administration has previously rolled back TPS for other nationalities, leading to fears that El Salvador could be next. While a Department of Homeland Security notice in early September suggested that TPS for Salvadorans would continue for the time being, it offered little long-term reassurance, leading to job losses and ongoing anxiety among recipients.

Many Salvadorans in the U.S. have resided there for over two decades, having fled civil war, hurricanes, and earthquakes in their home country. Returning to El Salvador presents challenges, including a high poverty rate and one of the world's highest imprisonment rates, coupled with concerns about human rights abuses amid President Nayib Bukele's crackdown on gang violence.

Rivas, who experienced political persecution in El Salvador before coming to the U.S. in 1998, views his role as a moral obligation. He recounts being detained and beaten as a young Catholic priest for advocating for social justice.

Community support for Rivas' efforts has been substantial, with donations of clothes and toys, and assistance from other churches and immigration organizations. If he ends up caring for many children simultaneously, Rivas plans to open a dedicated bank account at the church to manage expenses. He has also secured commitments of support from other congregations.

"I'm going to keep doing it as much as I can," Rivas stated, acknowledging the immense challenge but resolute in his commitment.