How Can I Protect My House in the U.S. If I Am Deported? Learn What Happens to Your Property and

With recent immigration raids, many fear losing their assets and want to know how to protect their house if they face deportation.

Thousands of undocumented immigrants have invested in homes and properties in the U.S.

Planning with the right legal tools can prevent losses and give stability to their families.

ICE operations in cities like Los Angeles and New York have increased uncertainty in the immigrant community.

Beyond the arrests, a vital question arises: what happens to a home in the event of deportation?

Understanding property rights and applying preventive measures is key to protecting your house and your family’s security.

Undocumented Immigrants and Property Rights

According to legal experts, in the U.S. there are no laws that prevent undocumented immigrants from purchasing real estate.

Many have done so using a Tax Identification Number (TIN) instead of a Social Security number.

Deportation does not eliminate that right: an undocumented immigrant can still remain the owner of their home, sell it, or rent it out.

The challenge is practical: handling paperwork from another country without preparation can result in the loss of the house or its devaluation.

The current context of immigration raids has made clear that a lack of estate planning leaves families vulnerable.

What Happens to My Property If I Am Deported?

| ICE deported nearly 200,000 illegal immigrants from the United States since President Trump returned to office in January, putting the agency on track to record its highest number of deportations in a decade.

— Alerta News 24 (@AlertaNews24) August 30, 2025

Deportation is an immigration process, not a property process.

The government does not confiscate assets solely because of immigration status, unless they are linked to crimes.

The problem arises when there is no plan: unpaid mortgages, overdue taxes, or abandoned homes.

Without preparation, properties can end up foreclosed or sold for less than their real value.

Protecting your home in the US requires anticipation: a power of attorney or a living trust allows you to maintain control even if the owner is not physically in the country.

Power of Attorney to Protect Your House in the US

A power of attorney gives authority to a trusted person to manage the property on the owner’s behalf.

With this document, the designated agent can:

Sign contracts and sale documents.

Pay mortgage, taxes, and basic services.

Rent out the house to support the family’s finances.

The power of attorney is simple, but prevents the home from being left unprotected if deportation occurs.

Living Trust as a Legal Solution

A living trust is another effective tool for undocumented immigrants seeking to protect their house in the US.

The owner transfers the home to the trust and maintains control while alive.

If detained or deported, the successor trustee manages the property according to the established terms.

This allows: selling the house and delivering the proceeds to the family, renting it out to cover payments, or keeping it until the owner can return.

The trust protects years of investment and ensures decisions remain in reliable hands.

What Comes Next

With more raids and immigration pressure, the most responsible step is to plan now.

A power of attorney and a living trust are strategies that protect not only your property but also your family’s stability.

What lies ahead: more ICE raids, making it urgent for property owners to act before an unexpected deportation.