Prof. Ana Pottratz Acosta Interviewed by MPR News About Helping Parents Arrested by ICE

Professor Ana Pottratz Acosta, visiting assistant professor and director of the the Immigration & Human Rights Clinic of the James H. Binger Center for New Americans, was interviewed by MPR News about helping parents arrested by ICE understand how Minnesota law might help them make arrangements for their children if they are separated. Prof. Pottratz Acosta said she and others have been working to educate parents on what’s called a Delegation of Parental Authority, or a DOPA. It’s a document that gives a caregiver temporary legal and physical custody of a child and the ability to make decisions. She said, “If you need to take the child to the doctor, or if there's an issue where you need to talk to somebody at the child's school. The DOPA form does give you permission to do those things in place of a parent.” She said the increased presence of ICE in the community has presented challenges for parents. She said, “The big challenge right now is that part of the process that you have to go through for safety planning may require you to leave your house, so that presents a danger to very vulnerable households that may need this assistance.”