I'm undocumented — does that affect my custody chances?

Houston immigration attorney here, but the principle is national. Family courts decide custody on the best interest of the child. Immigration status by itself is not a disqualifier — many states have explicit case law or statutes saying status alone can't tip a custody decision. What the other parent CAN do is argue that risk of deportation creates instability for the child. The answer to that is preparation, not panic: have a written family-preparedness plan (who picks the child up if you're detained, where the documents are, who has temporary custody authority). Some attorneys help families execute a notarized Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit (in CA, the form is the CCP §1517 affidavit). Don't engage with the threat. Engage with the plan. Hablo español y vietnamita.

Adding from the legal-aid side in LA — many counties have specific 'know your rights' programs for mixed-status families navigating family court. Your local legal-aid office and CHIRLA-affiliated programs can connect you. Tu estatus migratorio no decide la custodia de tus hijos. La preparación, sí.