Hyattsville Priest and Wife Take Guardianship of Two Children After Detention

Father Vidal Rivas, senior priest at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Hyattsville, and his wife have taken guardianship of two children after the children's mother, a single asylum seeker, was detained during an appointment with immigration authorities last week. The children are a 4-year-old boy and his 18-month-old sister.

Rivas and his wife had previously signed standby-guardian documents for 26 children whose parents feared detention or deportation, pledging to step in if those fears materialized. The couple moved quickly to care for the two children when the mother was taken into custody, saying privacy concerns prevented them from naming her.

The children are coping with separation and disruption. Father Vidal Rivas said, "Truly, the suffering is great. You can see the pain in the children – the pain of not having their mother." He added in Spanish, "We didn't expect that because she was doing things right." Rivas described the boy and toddler as struggling as they adjust to a new household and routine.

Immigration attorney Kelley Ortega called the situation "’Devastating’ I think is the best word because it's not a situation that a parent looks forward to, having to look for these types of documents or look to make these preparations. You know, they do so in great fear." Ortega's observation underscores why some parents execute standby-guardian paperwork - an attempt to keep children in a familiar circle rather than routing them through the child welfare system.

Local implications are immediate. Hyattsville and Prince George's County face the logistical and emotional demands of ad hoc caregiving when parents are detained. Questions remain about the legal force of standby-guardian documents under Maryland law, whether child welfare agencies have been notified, and how medical and school decisions will be handled while the mother is in custody. Faith-based institutions such as St. Matthew’s are again acting as a front-line safety net, filling gaps when families are separated by immigration enforcement.

The case also presses county officials and community groups to consider coordinated supports for immigrant families: clear guidance on emergency guardianship, rapid access to legal representation, and trauma-informed services for children who witness abrupt parental loss. For neighbors and congregations, it signals a potential need to step up with material assistance, caregiving help, and referrals to legal and mental health resources.

As this family’s situation unfolds, Prince George's County residents will be watching whether temporary guardianship arrangements can bridge short-term needs without creating longer-term instability. The broader conversation now turns to policy and preparation - how the county, its courts, and community organizations will protect children caught between immigration proceedings and everyday life.