When someone is detained or deported, they might not be the only ones affected, especially if they have children. In December, we wrote about the thousands of children in the United States who are currently in foster care as a result of parental deportation or detention. The issue is once again at the forefront after one woman lost custody of her son.

The woman in the most recently publicized case is originally from Guatemala. She was arrested five years ago after an immigration raid at a poultry plant. Soon after the raid, a judge terminated her parental rights because he felt that she could not provide her son with a stable life.

The woman's son was eventually adopted. Although she wanted to continue fighting for her son, she felt that she had no one to turn to for help since she did not speak English.

The woman in this case is not the only parent that has faced this kind of ordeal. Currently, around 5,000 children are in foster care after their parents were detained or deported.

The woman has begun working with an attorney, but has not been able to gain back custody of her son.

When someone is detained and facing potential deportation, it can be a frightening experience. Fortunately, people do not have to go through the process alone. Those in New York who are dealing with immigration issues would do well to consult with an experienced immigration attorney. An attorney can work with individuals to resolve those issues.

Source: ABC 2 News, "Judge places illegal immigrant's child in foster care," Feb. 2, 2012