"The stress can have long-term developmental harm, inhibiting their ability to do well in school, have good health outcomes, and grow into thriving, stable adults."
This stark warning from Wendy Cervantes of the Center for Law and Social Policy encapsulates the deepening crisis affecting millions of children in immigrant families across the United States. As federal and state governments intensify immigration enforcement and curtail access to vital social services, the psychological, emotional, and physical well-being of these young individuals is being severely compromised. From the immediate trauma of parental separation to the chronic stress of living in constant fear, the ripple effects are profound and potentially lifelong, impacting not only the children themselves but also the broader societal fabric.
The harrowing account of a young girl in Oxnard, California, asking Norma Gómez if she was "the person who’s going to bring my mom back?" is a poignant illustration of the human cost of aggressive immigration policies. Gómez, a project manager for a nonprofit providing food assistance, could only offer a comforting, yet ultimately evasive, response. Her supplies of food, diapers, and clothing, while essential, could not mend the gaping wound of parental absence caused by federal immigration agents arresting the children’s parents outside their home. This incident, occurring on a cold December morning, is not an isolated tragedy but a symptom of a widespread problem affecting countless families.
Since the re-election of President Donald Trump, the landscape for immigrant families has been fraught with increasing uncertainty and fear. The Pew Research Center reports that the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population reached a record 14 million in 2023, a demographic that now faces intensified scrutiny and enforcement. Through April, an estimated 205,000 children had at least one parent detained by immigration authorities, a figure that has undoubtedly continued to rise. The Brookings Institution highlights that such separations inflict significant psychological harm on children, destabilizing families and leaving remaining caregivers struggling to meet basic needs like housing, food, and healthcare. Tragically, some children are left entirely alone, forced to care for themselves.
The detrimental impact extends beyond direct parental detention. Two children in North Carolina reportedly died by suicide in February 2025, following alleged bullying related to their family’s immigration status. This underscores the severe mental health toll that can be exacerbated by the climate of fear and discrimination. Furthermore, millions of children are experiencing a decline in their access to essential resources. As federal and state governments roll back eligibility for immigrants, regardless of legal status, these families are losing access to critical medical care, food assistance, and tax credits. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities notes that a significant portion of lawfully present immigrants are expected to lose health coverage due to recent legislative changes.
The pervasive fear of federal enforcement has created a climate of apprehension that discourages parents from engaging in routine activities crucial for their children’s development. Many are hesitant to take their children to school, attend medical appointments, or participate in social activities, fearing that any interaction with authorities could lead to detention or deportation. This reluctance extends to essential programs like Medicaid and SNAP, with families opting out or avoiding enrollment due to concerns about the "public charge" rule, which can penalize immigrants for using public benefits. The Urban Institute reports that children from immigrant backgrounds are experiencing heightened emotional distress, increased bullying in schools, and anxiety related to racial profiling by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), even when they or their family members hold citizenship or legal residency.
It is crucial to recognize that the majority of children affected by these policies are American citizens. Approximately one in four U.S.-born children have at least one immigrant parent, with around 4.6 million having a parent who lacks legal status. This means that enforcement actions have a direct and profound impact on U.S. citizens, disrupting their families, livelihoods, and overall well-being. Wendy Cervantes, director of immigration and immigrant families at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), expresses deep concern about the long-term consequences for this generation. "This type of stress can have long-term developmental harm and can really inhibit their ability to do well in school, to have good health outcomes, and to grow into thriving, stable adults," she stated, emphasizing the intergenerational impact of current policies.
The Trump administration has made immigration enforcement a central priority. On Inauguration Day, an executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented parents or those on temporary visas was issued, though it was ultimately blocked by the Supreme Court. The administration has significantly increased funding for immigration enforcement, leading to the detention of parents of an estimated 145,000 U.S. citizen children as of April. The Marshall Project reported that over 6,200 children were also detained. Efforts to rescind Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over a million immigrants, many of whom have U.S. citizen children, and the stalling of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals, affecting parents of approximately 300,000 citizen children, further exacerbate family instability.
White House officials contend that these immigration crackdowns benefit American citizens by purportedly freeing up resources like jobs and housing, reducing strain on public services, and removing individuals deemed criminals. However, studies, including one from the Brookings Institution, suggest that mass deportations can actually harm U.S. workers. President Trump and his allies have argued that birthright citizenship incentivizes unauthorized immigration and "birth tourism," and that TPS has allowed individuals from "dangerous, third-world countries" to remain in the U.S. indefinitely. In response to inquiries about the long-term harm to children and increased healthcare costs, a White House spokesperson, Lauren Bis, instead reiterated criticisms of former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, focusing on the alleged trafficking of children across the border.
Public opinion on immigration policy remains divided, with a recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll indicating that only 39% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of immigration. Critics like Stephen Miller, a key architect of Trump’s immigration policies, have accused immigrant children of draining public resources and perpetuating problems from their home countries. This narrative is contradicted by extensive research. Studies, such as those published in the Social Security Bulletin and PMC, indicate that immigrants tend to earn more and fare better the longer they reside in the United States. Their children also assimilate rapidly, as detailed in books like "Streets of Gold." Furthermore, data from the Cato Institute suggests that immigrants rely less on welfare programs than native-born Americans. Miller’s assertion on social media platform X, that "migrants and their descendants recreate the conditions, and terrors, of their broken homelands," stands in opposition to this empirical evidence.
Recent legislative actions, including a tax-and-spending law enacted last summer, have further curbed immigrant eligibility for crucial health and food assistance programs. New "public charge" rules implemented in July grant immigration officers broad discretion to deny green cards to lawfully present immigrants if they or their family members have utilized public benefit programs. This policy could lead to over a million U.S. citizen children disenrolling from safety net healthcare programs, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).
The trauma of parental separation has been well-documented as a significant adverse childhood experience (ACE), potentially leading to lifelong health problems such as anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and learning difficulties. Research published in PMC indicates that children separated from their parents at the border during the previous Trump administration exhibited lasting trauma. Deportations and detentions of immigrant parents, or even the threat thereof, are linked to widespread emotional trauma, increased school dropout rates, housing instability, and hunger among both immigrant and U.S.-born children, as noted in studies from Sociological Science and KFF. The societal cost is substantial; a 2024 study by federal researchers estimated that health conditions related to childhood trauma accounted for $292 billion in healthcare spending in 2021 alone, including costs borne by taxpayer-funded programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
In Oxnard, California, 13-year-old Emmanuel exhibits anxiety whenever his father, a farm laborer, leaves for work. He repeatedly seeks reassurance from his mother, Ana, about his father’s return and expresses fear about what would happen if they were both detained. His urgency when in public spaces reflects a constant worry about ICE encounters. Doctors and therapists interviewed by KFF Health News report a significant rise in mental health issues, particularly anxiety, among children from immigrant families. Pediatrician Kimberly McNally at Venice Family Clinic has seen an increase in referrals for mental health services due to children’s fears of parental separation. Early childhood educators also observe children arriving at daycare with extra bags, prepared for the possibility that their parents might not be able to pick them up.
The psychological toll can tragically manifest in extreme actions. In June, 19-year-old Eliel José reportedly took his own life after his father was deported from Atlanta to Mexico, according to Univision. Rosie Harrison, executive director of Grow Initiative GA, a community organization serving low-income families, has received calls from immigrant parents seeking help for suicidal and depressed children. These situations are often compounded by a lack of health insurance and the inability to afford therapy, frequently a consequence of parents losing jobs with benefits due to worksite raids or changes in eligibility rules. Harrison’s concern is palpable: "I’m concerned about the families that are going to be burying their child. I’m concerned that we are going to miss out on having an amazing person do amazing things for our community, for our country, because they took their life."
Despite the immense challenges, many children are demonstrating remarkable resilience. In a poignant role reversal, some children have become their parents’ primary caregivers, taking on responsibilities like grocery shopping and escorting younger siblings to school to minimize their parents’ exposure to potential enforcement actions. Giselle Gonzalez, a university student and volunteer with VC Defensa in Ventura County, California, recalls an incident last summer where neighborhood children on bicycles alerted residents to the presence of ICE agents, yelling warnings to stay indoors.
Community groups, health providers, and neighbors have mobilized to support families affected by immigration enforcement. Initiatives include delivering groceries, providing pro bono therapy, facilitating school transportation, and assisting parents in developing emergency childcare plans in the event of detention or deportation. Advocates and academic experts agree that a fundamental shift toward more humane immigration policies and enforcement tactics is essential to mitigate the ongoing harm to children.
Researchers at Arizona State University point to the Family Case Management Program (FCMP) as a potential model for balancing immigration law enforcement with family unity. Launched under President Obama in 2016, the FCMP allowed asylum-seeking families to remain in their communities while their cases were processed, providing support through case managers. The program, deemed successful and cost-effective, was terminated by the subsequent Trump administration.
At Venice Family Clinic in Los Angeles, case manager Mabel Alavez witnesses the constant pressure on families who remain together but live under the perpetual threat of separation. Many are long-term residents, including parents and grandparents, who fear taking their U.S.-born children to school, parks, or beaches, and question the safety of enrolling them in Medicaid. Alavez also assists families facing eviction due to their inability to work and afford rent, often helping them create contingency plans for their children’s care. Having grown up in an immigrant family herself, Alavez understands the complex navigation for first-generation Americans. "It’s hard for me to imagine how they could possibly do that in addition to what’s going on now," she stated, acknowledging the profound and yet-to-be-fully-understood impact on this generation.
