Immigration law guides our nation’s gatekeepers regarding who is allowed to enter, how long they are allowed to stay and when they must depart. How that affects children is a complex and controversial issue.
Families flee their home countries due to war, unrest, disasters, violence or economic or political instability. Sometimes children are separated from their families, leading to fear and behavioral changes.
Research has found that about half of the world’s refugees are younger than 18 years old. An estimated 33 million children are separated from their homes by force, and 1.5 million are seeking asylum. That separation has caused Latino children to suffer on an emotional, educational and economic level.
This situation will not be solved overnight; instead, it will require assistance from many other entities.
The United States is considered a nation of immigrants. Most immigrant children experience mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and severe psychological distress due to separation of families, cultural adaptation, social acceptance, intergenerational conflicts, post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological disorders.
Unfortunately, immigrant children often face barriers to accessing mental health care in the United States. Therefore, social workers must understand the need for mental health assistance among immigrant children, be culturally competent in their unique circumstances, and know how to help them and how and where to seek support.
Systems of support for these children can foster trust and resilience among the immigrant population.
Immigrant children are also affected in their education. According to the 1982 U. S. Supreme Court case of Plyler v. Doe, states cannot constitutionally deny students a free public education due to their immigration status. Even though the federal government has recognized the importance of education for all children in the United States, students continue to encounter barriers to higher education. Although education should be accessible to immigrant children, various socioeconomic and political factors, including language inefficiencies, cultural and educational system differences, economic instability and illegal immigration status affect immigrant students’ ability to enroll in American schools and colleges.
If education is provided to immigrants, it can open doors to productive employment opportunities, the possibility to improve and give back to the U.S. economy, the opportunity for a stable and productive life and the ability to contribute to a more connected, open-minded and inclusive society.
By law, many immigrants are not allowed to receive federal benefits, but some can receive assistance if they fall into one of the following categories: refugees, people granted asylum or withholding of deportation/removal, conditional entrants, certain abused immigrants or survivors of trafficking. Regardless, if they qualify for public benefits they must undergo an extensive process that can take weeks or months.
Economists generally agree that immigrants help our economy, as they increase higher-paying occupations for native-born Americans and raise the overall pace of innovation and productivity growth. Society must consider that most immigrants, including minors, tend to take jobs in manual labor occupations such as agriculture and construction with low pay to cover their needs and survive their poverty.
The National Association of Social Workers states that social workers must pursue social change, mainly on behalf of those who are vulnerable and oppressed. It is essential for social workers and policymakers who work with immigrant communities to be aware of the challenges immigrant families encounter and the impact of immigration policies on the emotional, educational and economic development of Latino children.
Also, it is vital to explore internal and external sources of resilience that may protect Latina/o immigrant families against the potentially adverse effects of restrictive immigration policies and practices on their overall psychological well-being. We should improve education opportunities, access to health insurance, Social Security schemes and job opportunities. Such solutions can help mitigate the crises most immigrant children encounter coming to the U.S.
Society should pay careful attention to the harmful impact of immigration policies on Latino communities, and work collaboratively with researchers, policymakers and communities to improve mental health and well-being and advocate for humane immigration policy.
Immigrant children are part of America’s future; therefore, their well-being should be promoted through comprehensive, accessible and respectful initiatives to meet their needs.
Imelda Guerra is a graduate student of social work at Our Lady of the LakeUniversity.
