The psychosocial impact of detention and deportation on U.S. Migrant children and families
Abstract
Approximately 4.5 million U.S. citizen children live in mixed-status families, in which at least 1 family member is an unauthorized migrant and therefore vulnerable to detention and deportation from the United States (Passel & Cohn, 2011). This article critically examines the current state of the literature on the psychosocial consequences of detention and deportation for unauthorized migrants, mixed-status families, and their U.S.-born children. In particular, drawing on social and psychological theory and research, we (a) review the impact of parents' unauthorized status on children; (b) summarize the literature on the impact of detention processes on psychosocial well-being; (c) describe the dilemma faced by a mixed-status family when a parent faces deportation; (d) examine the current social scientific literature on how parental deportation impacts children and their families; and (e) summarize several policy recommendations for protecting children and families.
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Recent studies have shown that both a parent's unauthorized status and a deportation event can negatively impact the quality of life of U.S. citizen-children.
“Recent studies have shown that both a parent's unauthorized status (36, 37) and deportation event can negatively impact the quality of life of U.S. citizen-children (38–42).”
From Deported Men's and Father's Perspective: The Impacts of Family Separation on Children and Families in the U.S. (2020) · cites this paper as [38]
Cites
Social effects of mass deportations by the United States government, 2000–10
Hagan, J. M., Rodriguez, N., & Castro, B. (2011) · Ethnic and Racial Studies · doi:10.1080/01419870.2011.575233 · Cited by 215 · see citing works
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US Immigration Policy and the Case for Family Unity
Gubernskaya, Z., & Dreby, J. (2017) · Journal on Migration and Human Security · doi:10.1177/233150241700500210 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Ojeda, V. D., Magana, C., Burgos, J. L., & Vargas-Ojeda, A. C. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00148 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
- Authors
- Brabeck, K. M., Lykes, M. B., & Hunter, C.
- Affiliations
- Rhode Island College (US)
- Boston College (US)
- Venue
- American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
- Published
- 2014
- Volume
- 84
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 496-505
- ISSN
- 0002-9432 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-0025
- OpenAlex
- W2126419631
- Cited by
- 140
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 8.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Orthopsychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration, Refugees, and Integration
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Keywords
- migrant children, mixed-status families, undocumented immigrants, immigration detention, deportation, psychosocial well-being, parental deportation, immigrant children, family separation, immigration policy, child protection
- MeSH terms
- Child, Child Development, Emigration and Immigration, Family, Humans, Human Rights, Public Policy, Transients and Migrants, United States
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