This paper argues that intensified U.S. immigration enforcement under the Trump administration has produced severe negative impacts on the health and well-being of immigrant children, especially those in mixed-status families (where at least one member lacks legal status). The author emphasizes that fear of deportation harms not only undocumented immigrants but also their U.S.-born children and the wider community by discouraging healthcare access, spreading anxiety, and eroding trust in public institutions. Fear of arrest and deportation leads many immigrants to avoid hospitals and clinics, even when in need of critical care. The elimination of the sensitive location policy by the administration has also worsened the situation. Some surveys show over half of Latino high school students report anxiety, PTSD, or depression linked to deportation fears. Even though children may be eligible for medical services, parents avoid providing access for fear of retribution. The author concludes that aggressive and indiscriminate immigration enforcement harms the larger society, not just immigrants.
The Health Costs to Children of Stepped-Up U.S. Immigration Enforcement,
Migration Policy Institute, June 2025, 3 pp.
Author: Valerie Lacarte