I am a refugee foster mom in Massachusetts, and I have been fostering for over six years. What I am seeing right now is something I have never seen move this fast. Youth in our foster care community are receiving removal notices from immigration court, and they have only a 30 day window to appeal the removal order. Without action these removal notices result in deportation. This is an unprecedented violation of these children’s human rights. 

That is what makes this so dangerous. These children are in the foster care system because Massachusetts state courts have already determined that they have no other safe option to return to. They need protection, stability, and adults who will actually fight for them. Instead, we are putting them on a clock and threatening them with deportation. 

Massachusetts child welfare leaders and politicians must act now to stop these deportations so real legal review happens. The Department of Children and Families must make protecting these children their first priority. They must ensure every affected youth has effective, immediate immigration counsel, and refuse to let children be removed while their legal immigration options are still unresolved. If these kids are in our care, then our care has to mean something. These children deserve a safe place to live, advocacy, and cooperation between the immigration courts and their legal teams to ensure their safety. 

I am asking you to stand with these children and with the families, foster parents, advocates, and neighbors who know this is wrong. Children are not political pawns- they are our future! Please sign and help demand that Massachusetts protect foster youth from deportation while they are still depending on the system for safety.