It is a myth. Have you ever heard of the term “anchor baby?” It is a pervasive falsehood that claims non-citizens have children in the United States so that they can remain living here. Having a child here does not make you a citizen. However, it does make you a parent.
Immigration legislation changes. New initiatives and interpretations of the law affect non-citizens. Someone who isn’t at risk for deportation could be after a new law goes into effect. Furthermore, non-citizens can’t say for sure what the result of their immigration process will be. Non-citizens who face the possibility of deportation want to know their children will be taken care of in their absence.
Children & Peace of Mind
Take control of what you can. Despite not knowing whether you will be deported, there are actions you can take to protect your children. One such tool for doing this is a power of attorney (POA). Think of it as a way for someone else to act as you on your behalf. We will go over the scope of what this person can and cannot do in the next section. But you should know what a power of attorney is capable of doing for you.
If your situation mirrors the one outlined above, take comfort in knowing that a POA enables someone to make decisions regarding your child: e.g., where they go to school, and the medical care they receive. A POA also gives them the means to accomplish this.
A bank account can be complicated to access without the proper permission. Even if you pass away, your loved ones will face hurdles getting into your private accounts (if you hadn’t given them the legal ability to do so). A POA circumvents this issue. The person you designate to be your power of attorney can do everything from writing checks to buying a house in your name—if you choose.
General vs. Special
Before creating a power of attorney, you want to know who will entrust it to—and what power you want to give them. A general power of attorney will provide them with the ability to do almost anything in your name.
If you are uncomfortable with that (which is entirely understandable), you can limit their powers to specific actions. Your attorney will list them in the document.
Csépes Law Offices
At Csépes Law Offices, we take pride in our ability to assist our clients with issues for both family law and immigration. If you have any further questions about powers of attorney, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Csépes Law Offices
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