A recent study conducted by mental health professionals at UC Riverside’s School of Medicine highlights the significant emotional toll that aggressive immigration enforcement practices are having on children. The report, published on July 25, 2023, in Psychiatric News, identifies a range of psychological risks affecting children in mixed-status households, which include both immigrant and U.S.-born children. The researchers argue that the trauma stemming from family separations due to immigration raids, detention, and deportation constitutes a public health emergency for millions of children across the United States.
The study’s findings indicate that children are suffering from acute psychological distress as a direct consequence of the current immigration enforcement climate. Dr. Lisa Fortuna, professor and chair of psychiatry and neuroscience at the UCR School of Medicine, stated, “We are witnessing the effects of chronic fear, disrupted attachment, and intergenerational trauma on a massive scale.” These emotional impacts are exacerbated by factors such as poverty and discrimination, creating a cycle of trauma that can affect generations.
A national survey involving 547 U.S.-born adolescents aged 11 to 16 revealed alarming statistics. Those with a detained or deported family member exhibited a higher risk for suicidal thoughts, externalizing behaviors, and alcohol use. Children from families recently affected by immigration raids have exhibited symptoms ranging from anxiety attacks to behavioral changes, reinforcing the report’s assertion that abrupt caregiver loss leads to significant disruptions in sleep and appetite.
The implications of both pre- and post-migration separations are profound, affecting children’s emotional development and academic performance. Immigrant caregivers, particularly mothers, often bear their own trauma, which can hinder their ability to support their children effectively. The authors of the report argue for a reevaluation of how structural and intergenerational trauma is diagnosed and treated within the field of psychiatry.
The increase in immigration raids has been attributed to the policies of the Trump administration, which focused on targeting individuals deemed as “the worst of the worst,” including drug cartels and violent offenders. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claim that these actions have contributed to a decline in border crossings, citing arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes. DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that law enforcement is actively removing individuals who pose threats to safety.
Despite these claims, advocacy groups assert that the majority of those affected by these enforcement actions are not serious criminals but individuals who have established lives and families in the U.S. Concerns have been raised about the lack of due process in many detentions, with some individuals wrongfully detained, including U.S. citizens and lawful residents.
In response to inquiries regarding the emotional impact on children affected by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions, an agency spokesperson reiterated the policy against family separation. They noted that removable parents can choose to take their children with them, provided there are no indications of abuse or neglect. However, this statement fails to address the profound emotional consequences that many families face during these enforcement actions.
As debates over immigration policy continue nationally, the report from UC Riverside urges policymakers and mental health professionals to consider the human costs of enforcement-driven systems. The authors advocate for prioritizing the emotional wellbeing of vulnerable children and families, promoting methodologies that have proven more effective than traditional mental health interventions.
Dr. Kevin Gutierrez, co-author and assistant clinical professor of health sciences at UCR, stressed the importance of psychiatry not only in treatment but also in advocacy. He stated, “The mental health of immigrant children is inseparable from the systems that shape their lives.” The report argues that effective healing for immigrant families comes from restoring protective relationships, cultural traditions, and communal ties that foster resilience.
As the situation evolves, the findings of this study highlight the urgent need for a compassionate approach to immigration enforcement—one that considers the emotional health of children and families caught in the crossfire of national policy.
