Children face decades of trauma after parents deported

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 21:02 · Archive

More than 200,000 children, including at least 145,000 US citizens, have had a parent detained by immigration authorities since the second Trump administration began, according to estimates from the Brookings Institution. Advocates and experts say the Trump administration's practices could negatively affect these children for decades. Research from Brookings shows more children across the region are missing school due to fear of or in response to immigration enforcement.

Abigail Lopez, fourteen, attends Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. Her father, Juan Lopez, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on his way to work in September. According to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, Juan has a felony record, including aggravated assault with a weapon and burglary. He was deported to Mexico. Abigail is the youngest of his seven children and has missed four days of school due to stress from his detention and deportation.

Her sister Stephanie Lopez, thirty-two, said Abigail would text her mother saying 'Can you pick me up? I'm worried about you. I'm scared of what's gonna happen.' According to the CDC, adverse childhood experiences can predispose children to chronic stress, poor health outcomes, academic struggles, criminal behaviour, unemployment, addiction, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Children from immigrant families face trauma unique to their experiences, including parental deportation and long-term family separation.

How it is being reported

• Nebraska kids whose parents are deported could face decades of trauma, experts saySince her father was detained and deported, Abigail Lopez struggles to concentrate in class. The 14-year-old attends Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.WOWT · 22 Oct, 20:24
• Nebraska kids whose parents are deported could face decades of trauma, experts saySince her father was detained and deported, Abigail Lopez struggles to concentrate in class. The 14-year-old attends Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.1011Now · 22 Oct, 20:24

In this story: Abigail Lopez · Juan Lopez · Stephanie Lopez · Immigration and Customs Enforcement · Brookings Institution · Trump administration · West Des Moines · Mexico

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