Vidal Rivas, a 62-year-old priest from St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Maryland, has been introduced as the temporary guardian of 31 children whose immigrant parents are concerned about potential detentions by immigration authorities. This priest has previously helped needy families and is currently ready to care for these children at the request of their parents in case of legal troubles.
Difficult Experiences and Heavy Responsibilities
Rivas faced challenges in caring for two of the children after a mother returned to Maryland from a four-month detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. During the mother's absence, the children lived with Rivas and his wife. Rivas says, "I feel a great responsibility, and this is a heavy burden on my shoulders." He adds that some families are contacting him to plan for the future, and he is trying to help them.
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Concerns Related to Immigrant Status
Rivas has encouraged families to designate him as their temporary guardian since last year, especially after Donald Trump took office. Many parents have come from El Salvador and are worried about the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which affects about 170,000 migrants from that country. He says, "It is not easy for parents to know that they may be detained and their children could remain in the United States without them." Under Maryland law, parents can designate a temporary guardian in case of their detention.
Rivas, who is originally from El Salvador, is well aware of the challenges facing the immigrant community. He says that many people have fled their cities or returned to other countries out of fear of detention and legal problems. This reflects deeper concerns about the future of immigrants in the United States, and Rivas is trying to help them in these difficult circumstances.
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