A recent study conducted by mental health professionals at UC Riverside’s School of Medicine highlights the severe emotional impact of aggressive immigration practices on children. The report, published on July 25, 2023, in Psychiatric News, indicates that practices such as detention, deportation, and workplace raids create significant psychological trauma for both immigrant and U.S.-born children in mixed-status households.
The findings suggest that “acute psychological risks” arise from forced family separations, particularly those linked to immigration enforcement actions. The researchers argue that the current immigration enforcement climate in the United States constitutes a public health emergency affecting millions of children. They emphasize that trauma can be transmitted across generations and exacerbated by conditions such as poverty, discrimination, and the pervasive fear of enforcement.
Dr. Lisa Fortuna, the lead psychiatrist on the study and a professor at the UCR School of Medicine, stated, “We are witnessing the effects of chronic fear, disrupted attachment, and intergenerational trauma on a massive scale.” She added that the looming threat or reality of separation from a caregiver fundamentally alters a child’s development and mental health.
A national study involving 547 U.S.-born adolescents aged 11 to 16 found that having a detained or deported family member correlates with increased risks for suicidal thoughts, alcohol use, and behavioral issues. Families affected by recent immigration raids reported anxiety attacks, unexpected emotional outbursts, and significant changes in behavior. The report also noted that young children experiencing abrupt caregiver loss often face sleep and appetite disturbances.
The emotional development and academic performance of children are negatively impacted by both pre- and post-migration family separations. Additionally, many immigrant caregivers, particularly mothers, suffer from trauma, which hinders their ability to provide emotional support for their children.
The authors of the study assert that psychiatry must engage actively with the societal implications of structural and intergenerational trauma. “Psychiatry, as both a clinical discipline and a social institution, cannot remain on the periphery,” they wrote.
Immigration raids have intensified under the Trump administration, which has focused on targeting major criminal threats and has framed the crackdown as a response to an “invasion” of undocumented immigrants. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have reported arrests of individuals accused of serious crimes. According to DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin, “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.”
Despite claims by federal authorities that the crackdown is effective, advocacy groups argue that many of those arrested are not criminals. They highlight concerns regarding the lack of due process, citing instances where U.S. citizens or individuals on a legal path to residency have been detained.
In response to inquiries about the emotional consequences of ICE enforcement on children, an agency spokesperson reiterated a policy of non-separation, stating, “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not separate families or deport U.S. citizens.” However, advocates contend that the reality of family separations often contradicts these statements, as federal operations frequently remove primary breadwinners, leaving families and children in precarious situations.
As national debates over immigration policy continue, the UC Riverside report calls on policymakers and mental health professionals to confront the human costs associated with enforcement-driven immigration systems. It emphasizes the need to prioritize the emotional wellbeing of the youngest and most vulnerable members of society.
The report outlines methodologies that have proven more effective than traditional mental health interventions, advocating for community-partnered 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 study concludes.
Dr. Kevin Gutierrez, co-author of the report and an assistant clinical professor of health sciences at UCR, stated, “The mental health of immigrant children is inseparable from the systems that shape their lives.” The findings urge a critical reassessment of how mental health services can address the unique challenges faced by immigrant families in today’s climate.
