As immigration enforcement actions continue across the country, a wave of fear is gripping undocumented immigrant families in the Bay Area, particularly in San Francisco. With growing concerns over sudden detentions and deportations, many immigrant parents are taking emotional and unprecedented steps to ensure their children are cared for in case they are separated. Some have gone as far as asking their children’s summer camp counselors to act as temporary guardians.

In the heart of San Francisco, at a summer camp run by a local nonprofit organization for children aged five to ten, a quiet but powerful reality is unfolding. The camp, held at an undisclosed location to protect the privacy of families, serves children primarily from immigrant backgrounds. As federal immigration raids intensify under ongoing policies, undocumented parents are increasingly reaching out to trusted figures in their children's lives to prepare for the worst-case scenario—detention and family separation.

“They have asked our counselors, who they trust, to be almost like legal guardians in the event they get apprehended and deported,” said Efrain Barrera, program director at the camp. “They want to make sure their children are safe, transported, or even reunited with them in their home country if necessary.”

For summer counselors like Mari and Susi, both in their twenties and long-time mentors in this community, the requests have been both emotionally overwhelming and legally complex. “About five parents have asked me,” Mari explained. “They each have two or three kids. If I say yes to one family and not another, I have to be sure I understand the responsibility I’m taking on.”

Neither counselor has signed any formal guardianship papers yet, but the conversations with parents have been serious and heartfelt. “The families tell me, ‘If it does happen, if I do get stopped, I want you to have my kids for a week. I’ll give you money to fly them out to meet me in Colombia,’” said Mari. “They have it all planned out—because they have to.”

The fear driving these requests stems from increasing immigration enforcement and what many see as a campaign of fear under federal policies. Sanika Mahajan, a local community advocate, expressed that many families feel hunted. “What we’ve seen is an escalation—coordinated campaigns of fear against the immigrant community,” she said.

Many children, particularly the younger ones, are unaware of the full scope of what is happening. “They just know their parents are worried and they keep hearing the word ‘immigration,’” said Susi. “They don’t understand the consequences, but they feel the tension.”

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) does not track immigration status, but data shows that more than 12,000 students are enrolled in English learner programs, making up about 25% of the student body. The majority of those students come from Latino and Chinese backgrounds, underscoring the significant presence of immigrant families in the area.

This deeply personal crisis has exposed the emotional and logistical gaps in preparing for family separations caused by immigration enforcement. While formal legal guardianship requires official paperwork, court procedures, and sometimes legal representation, many families are operating with informal verbal agreements, placing an extraordinary burden on young adults like Mari and Susi.

Experts warn that without proper legal documentation, these informal arrangements can result in complications, especially if a child ends up in state custody. But for parents facing potential removal from the country, the choice seems clear—trust someone familiar or risk their child being placed with strangers.

For the summer camp staff, their mission has suddenly taken on a new layer of responsibility. Beyond games, meals, and supervision, they are now part of a larger emotional safety net for children whose lives could be uprooted at a moment’s notice.

This situation is a stark reminder of how immigration policy touches all levels of society, from legal systems to classrooms to summer camps. In the absence of systemic protections, families are forced to rely on community bonds and informal trust. While no legal guardianship papers have yet been signed, the willingness of these young counselors to step into a potential parenting role speaks volumes about the strength of community in times of uncertainty.

As immigration policies and enforcement evolve, the stories unfolding in San Francisco reflect the real-life consequences of a system that often leaves families with impossible choices—and children caught in the middle.