Andrade Working to Protect Children of Undocumented Families

SPRINGFIELD, Ill – State Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, is supporting legislation that improves the process for undocumented parents to designate a legal guardian for their children in the event of the family being torn apart as a result of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda.

“Our state is home to over 2 million immigrants and mixed-status families face the constant fear of being torn apart,” Andrade said. “This legislation keeps loved ones together by putting clear guidelines in place for parents to designate who will take care of their children in their absence.”

Andrade is backing House Bill 836, which would improve the process of guardianship for minors in the case of a parent’s deportation. Currently, there are many barriers immigrant parents face if they try to assign custody of their children, including expensive fees, which many families cannot afford. The Andrade-backed reform simplifies the process by clarifying when a court has jurisdiction to move forward with guardianship matters, identifying proper documentation for guardianship petitions, and extending the short-term guardianship.

“Navigating the legal system can be both intimidating and expensive, so we must put state-level protections in place to ensure every child remains under the care of their loved ones rather than strangers,” Andrade said. “I am proud to support a measure that not only helps secure the well-being of children in our state but also brings awareness to the hardships that undocumented families face in our country.”