A new study from mental health professionals at the University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside) highlights the emotional toll that aggressive immigration enforcement actions, including detention and deportation, have on children. The report, published on July 25, 2023, in Psychiatric News, indicates that both immigrant and U.S.-born children in mixed-status households face significant psychological risks due to forced family separations linked to immigration practices.
The researchers describe this situation as a public health emergency affecting millions of children across the United States. They emphasize that trauma from immigration enforcement is exacerbated by factors such as poverty, discrimination, and the pervasive fear of being targeted by authorities. “We are witnessing the effects of chronic fear, disrupted attachment, and intergenerational trauma on a massive scale,” said Dr. Lisa Fortuna, the lead psychiatrist behind the report and professor at UC Riverside’s School of Medicine.
A national study cited in the report surveyed 547 U.S.-born adolescents, aged 11 to 16, revealing that having a detained or deported family member significantly correlates with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, behavioral issues, and substance use. Families affected by recent immigration raids have reported distressing behaviors in children, including anxiety attacks and sudden emotional outbursts.
The report also points to the negative impact of both pre- and post-migration family separations on children’s emotional development and academic performance. Often, immigrant caregivers, particularly mothers, experience trauma that hinders their ability to provide emotional support to their children. “Psychiatry, as both a clinical discipline and a social institution, cannot remain on the periphery,” the authors assert, calling for a critical reexamination of how structural and intergenerational trauma are diagnosed and treated.
Escalation of Immigration Raids
The increase in immigration enforcement actions is partly attributed to the policies of the Trump administration, which prioritized targeting individuals deemed the “worst of the worst.” Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have claimed that these efforts have led to decreased border crossings. They highlighted recent arrests made by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stating that many apprehended individuals had been convicted of serious crimes, including assault and child sex offenses.
DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, emphasized the administration’s commitment to removing individuals with violent criminal histories. “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,” she stated.
In contrast, advocacy groups argue that many individuals detained are not hardened criminals but rather family members who have established roots in the U.S. They contend that the enforcement actions lack due process and often lead to the unwarranted detention of U.S. citizens or those on a legal path to residency.
In response to inquiries about the impact of ICE enforcement on children, an agency spokesperson reiterated a policy of non-separation. They stated that ICE does not separate families or deport U.S. citizens, allowing removable parents the choice to take their children with them or to designate a third-party caregiver. However, advocates assert that many families have been separated from key household members, resulting in significant emotional distress for children.
Addressing the Emotional Costs
As national discussions surrounding immigration policy continue, the UC Riverside report urges policymakers and mental health professionals to confront the human costs associated with enforcement-driven immigration systems. The authors advocate for prioritizing the emotional wellbeing of vulnerable children and families affected by these policies.
They also propose methodologies that are more effective and ethical than traditional mental health interventions, emphasizing community-partnered approaches to 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 study notes.
Dr. Kevin Gutierrez, a co-author of the report and assistant clinical professor of health sciences at UC Riverside, highlights the need for psychiatry to take an active role in advocacy. “The mental health of immigrant children is inseparable from the systems that shape their lives,” he said.
The findings of this report shed light on a pressing issue affecting countless children, emphasizing the importance of addressing the emotional repercussions of immigration raids and the broader implications for society at large.