Mental health experts noted that the parents’ fears and the events surrounding the raids led to the children having depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
The report includes a series of recommendations for policymakers, local officials, service providers and the ICE to ensure that children are protected when raids occur. For example, the report says ICE should assume that children will be affected whenever adults are arrested in worksite raids, and a consistent policy should be arranged when handling detained parents.
Also, it says Congress should provide oversight of immigration enforcement and ensure that children are protected with adequate resources for schools and local agencies that respond to children’s needs. Schools should also develop safe places for children to go in the event of a school-hours raid, the report says.
Finally, the report urges social service and other public agencies to prepare plans to respond to ICE raids and develop outreach strategies to assure parents and other caregivers that it is safe to seek emergency assistance and support for children.
In light of the report, NCLR has asked Congress to hold hearings as soon as possible regarding the status of children in the aftermath of raids.
Castañeda said the issue is nonpartisan, and children’s needs should be the fundamental consideration.
Pepe Lozano writes for People's Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo newspaper www.pww.org.
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