A recent study from mental health professionals at UC Riverside’s School of Medicine highlights the emotional toll that aggressive immigration enforcement practices, such as detentions, deportations, and workplace raids, are inflicting on children. Published on July 25, 2023, in Psychiatric News, the report indicates that both immigrant and U.S.-born children living in mixed-status households are experiencing significant emotional distress due to forced family separations resulting from immigration actions.
The researchers argue that the current immigration enforcement in the United States constitutes a public health emergency for millions of children. They provide evidence that traumatic experiences are transmitted across generations and influenced by factors such as poverty, discrimination, and the persistent fear of enforcement. Dr. Lisa Fortuna, a professor and chair of psychiatry and neuroscience at UC Riverside, emphasized the severe impact of potential separation from caregivers, stating, “The threat or reality of separation from a caregiver fundamentally reshapes a child’s development and mental health.”
The report cites a national study of 547 U.S.-born adolescents aged 11 to 16, which found a strong correlation between the detention or deportation of a family member and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, behavioral issues, and substance abuse. Families recently affected by immigration raids have reported a range of distressing behaviors in their children, including anxiety attacks and sudden emotional outbursts. In young children, the loss of a caregiver has been linked to disruptions in sleep and appetite, further exacerbating emotional challenges.
Beyond immediate emotional responses, the study reveals that both pre- and post-migration family separations significantly impair children’s emotional development and academic performance. The trauma experienced by immigrant caregivers, particularly mothers, often limits their capacity to provide essential emotional support to their children. The authors advocate for a comprehensive reevaluation of how structural and intergenerational trauma is diagnosed and treated.
The context of heightened immigration enforcement can be traced back to the Trump administration, which intensified efforts to target undocumented immigrants, particularly those deemed involved in criminal activities. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have cited a decrease in border crossings as a sign of success, while regularly announcing the arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes. DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin recently stated, “Just yesterday, ICE arrested rapists, thieves, and other violent offenders. These are the scumbags our law enforcement are arresting and getting out of our country every single day.”
While the administration claims that the crackdown addresses an “invasion” of undocumented immigrants, advocacy groups contend that many individuals apprehended are not criminals but rather community members who have established stable lives in the U.S. The enforcement actions have often led to family separations, particularly affecting the heads of households who provide both financial and emotional stability. Critics argue that many detentions lack due process, sometimes resulting in the wrongful detention of U.S. citizens or those on a legal path to residency or citizenship.
In a recent communication regarding the impact of ICE enforcement on children, an agency representative referred to a non-separation policy but did not address the emotional consequences for affected children. The representative stated, “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not separate families or deport U.S. citizens, but removable parents — absent indications of abuse or neglect — can choose to take their children with them, regardless of the children’s immigration statuses.”
As national discussions around immigration continue, the report from UC Riverside calls on policymakers and mental health professionals to confront the human costs associated with enforcement-driven immigration systems. The study emphasizes the necessity of prioritizing the emotional well-being of children, particularly the most vulnerable.
The authors propose methodologies that are proving more effective than traditional mental health interventions, advocating for community-based approaches and systems of care. “Healing for immigrant children and families arises not only from clinical intervention but from the restoration and reinforcement of the protective relationships, cultural traditions, and communal ties that support resilience,” the report states.
Dr. Kevin Gutierrez, co-author of the study and assistant clinical professor of health sciences at UCR, asserts that the mental health of immigrant children is closely linked to the broader systems that shape their lives. He encourages the field of psychiatry to take an active role in advocacy alongside treatment, emphasizing the urgent need for a compassionate approach to the challenges faced by immigrant families.
As the situation continues to evolve, the findings underscore the pressing need for awareness and action to mitigate the emotional trauma experienced by children in the context of immigration enforcement.
