How Are Children Impacted by Immigration Deportations?

 Posted on January 15, 2025 in English

Immigration issues continue to be at the top of the news as a new administration is poised to take office. There is worry and concern among families that are made up of at least one undocumented immigrant. More than 16.7 million people across the United States share a home with at least one undocumented family member – often a parent. As many as six million of these individuals are children.

This means that when deportations occur, the children can suffer extensive economic, emotional, and developmental repercussions. Imagine, if you will, a mother with four young children being dragged away in handcuffs by ICE as her children watch. What will happen to these children? Will they see their mother again? Children of undocumented parents face exceptional challenges and risks when a parent is detained or deported.  

As we all wait to see what will happen, families with an undocumented member are likely anxious, stressed, and unsure of what to do. If you find yourself in this situation, it can be extremely beneficial to speak to a knowledgeable Herndon, VA immigration attorney who will assess your situation and help you determine your best course of action.

Who Is at Risk for Deportation?

If mass deportations occur, it is likely that the first round will include any undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of a crime in the United States. The second round would include those with pending criminal charges in the United States, including DUI, drug possession charges, assault and criminal charges, and even traffic offenses like leaving the scene of an accident.

After these first two rounds of removals, those with no convictions or pending charges who have broken U.S. immigration laws (including visa overstays) and those who have violated Visa Waiver Programs are likely to be the next group who could be deported. This category of deportees could also include those who have repeatedly violated immigration law by reentering after deportation.

How Will These Removals Affect Children?

As of 2017, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders from Haiti, Honduras, and El Salvador had an estimated 273,000 U.S. citizen children. If TPS designations are terminated, many of these parents will then be deemed undocumented, subject to removal and deportation.  

Mental health problems, including severe psychological distress, depression, and anxiety, are common among children whose parents have been detained or deported. Many of these children suffer these types of psychological distress by simply knowing a parent could be deported. Children can experience something known as toxic stress when a parent is removed.

Toxic stress can negatively affect brain development in children, putting them at a much higher risk of not only developing chronic mental health conditions but also physical conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. One study found that children who experienced the detention or deportation of a family member had a significantly increased risk of suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, and aggression.  

What Can Parents Do?

If you believe you may be targeted for detention/deportation and you have children, you should consider the following:

• Have a plan in place regarding who can take care of your children.
• Make sure you have the number of an immigration attorney you can call and do so at the first opportunity.
• Keep asking to be released; tell ICE that you have children who need to be cared for.
• Call your home country consulate (unless there is a reason you do not want them to know where you are) and ask for assistance.
• Do not sign any documents related to your immigration status or child welfare case without letting your attorney look at them first.
• If you have received a final deportation order, you may have to decide whether to bring your children with you or leave them with their other parent or a loved one.

Contact a Fairfax County, VA Family Immigration Attorney

If you are facing deportation and you have U.S.-born children, talk with an experienced Herndon, VA immigration attorney from Immigration Legal Advisors, PLLC now. He or she could have some ideas about how you can legally remain in the U.S. We are a supportive, full-service immigration law firm with more than 20 years of experience. Call 571-441-2233 to schedule your free consultation. We speak English and Spanish.