An Episcopal priest in the US state of Maryland has agreed to become the standby guardian for 31 children whose immigrant parents fear being detained by immigration authorities.
Rev Vidal Rivas, who has served at St Matthew’s Episcopal Church for nearly two decades, began helping families make guardianship arrangements last year.
He has already cared for a one- and four-year-old after their mother was detained by ICE.
“I feel a lot of responsibility, and a very heavy weight,” Rivas told Time.
Under Maryland law, parents can name a standby guardian if they are arrested by immigration authorities. The guardian can automatically assume legal responsibility for six months, with the arrangement extendable by a judge.
Rivas said most of the families he is helping are Salvadoran and are concerned about the future of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which has protected thousands of Salvadorans from deportation.
“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,” Rivas added.
In September, the US Department of Homeland Security said Salvadorans covered by TPS would continue to “retain protection including work authorization”, but said a decision on the programme's future “will be made at the appropriate time”.
The uncertainty has left some families worried about their jobs and whether they will be able to remain in the US.
“Many people have left the church for other cities, and some have returned to their country,” Rivas added. “People are in fear and become insecure.”
Rivas said caring for the two children had made him more aware of what could be required of him if immigration enforcement increases in the area.
Support from churches and community groups has also helped families make contingency plans and provided practical assistance.
If he takes in more children, Rivas said he plans to set up a church bank account to receive donations for childcare.
The 62-year-old priest acknowledged the challenge of caring for so many children but described his role as “a moral obligation.”
“I'm going to keep doing it as much as I can,” he added.