Immigration Raids Inflict Emotional Trauma on Children, Study Finds
A recent study conducted by mental health professionals at UC Riverside highlights the emotional toll that aggressive immigration practices, including detention and deportation, are having on children. Published on July 25, 2023, in Psychiatric News, the report outlines how these practices create “acute psychological risks” for both immigrant and U.S.-born children living in mixed-status households. The researchers argue that current immigration enforcement in the United States constitutes a public health emergency for millions of children.
The study emphasizes that forced family separations, particularly those resulting from immigration actions, contribute significantly to trauma. Dr. Lisa Fortuna, professor and chair of psychiatry and neuroscience at UC Riverside, who led the research, stated, “We are witnessing the effects of chronic fear, disrupted attachment, and intergenerational trauma on a massive scale.” She explained that the threat or reality of separation from a caregiver fundamentally reshapes a child’s development and mental health.
Data from a national study involving 547 U.S.-born adolescents aged 11 to 16 revealed that having a detained or deported family member is linked to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, “externalizing behaviors,” and alcohol use. Families affected by recent immigration raids report experiencing heightened anxiety, sudden emotional outbursts, and noticeable shifts in behavior. The report notes that young children who experience abrupt caregiver loss often suffer from sleep and appetite disturbances.
The implications of both pre- and post-migration family separations are profound, affecting children’s emotional development and academic performance. Immigrant caregivers, especially mothers, frequently endure trauma that impairs their ability to support their children emotionally. The authors assert that “Psychiatry, as both a clinical discipline and a social institution, cannot remain on the periphery,” calling for a comprehensive reevaluation of how structural and intergenerational trauma is diagnosed and treated.
The rise in immigration raids has been attributed to the previous administration’s commitment to target individuals deemed as “the worst of the worst.” According to Department of Homeland Security officials, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested several individuals with serious criminal backgrounds, including those convicted of violent crimes. Despite this, advocacy groups argue that many individuals caught up in these enforcement actions are not criminals but rather have established lives within the U.S.
In response to questions regarding the impact of enforcement on children, an ICE spokesperson emphasized the agency’s policy of non-separation, stating, “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not separate families or deport U.S. citizens.” They noted that removable parents can choose to take their children with them or designate a third-party caregiver, but did not address the emotional consequences of these actions.
As federal enforcement has intensified in Southern California and across the nation, families often find themselves separated from key breadwinners and stability providers. Advocates contend that many detainees are not criminals but individuals who have built lives and families in the U.S. Concerns have also been raised about the lack of due process in many detentions, leading to the apprehension of U.S. citizens or those on legal paths to residency.
The UC Riverside researchers urge policymakers and mental health professionals to confront the human costs associated with enforcement-driven immigration systems. They advocate for prioritizing the emotional well-being of the youngest and most vulnerable populations. The report suggests that effective and ethical mental health interventions, such as community-partnered approaches, are crucial for healing.
“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 concludes. Dr. Kevin Gutierrez, co-author and assistant clinical professor of health sciences at UC Riverside, emphasized that the mental health of immigrant children is intertwined with the systems shaping their lives, advocating for a more active role for psychiatry in both treatment and advocacy.
