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The ability of local groups to serve immigrant families after a federal raid is paramount to reducing trauma in children left behind.

A report released Wednesday by the Urban Institute and National Council of La Raza details the impact of company raids for illegal immigrants. The report focuses on how the children of the parents fared in the short term, and how the communities responded.

With Oklahoma House Bill 1804 becoming law on Thursday, researchers say any effort to hamper local responders will create further chaos after the raids. The bill makes it a felony to transport or shelter any undocumented immigrant.

"I cannot see how it wouldn't create a crisis," said Rosa Maria Castaneda, research associate at the institute. "Our research clearly shows that the response by the local agencies, public and private, is very important and a big assistance to families. Further implications and consequences could arise because of the state legislation."

The report analyzes the aftermath of raids in Greeley, Colo.;

"There are consequences for children, and most of them are U.S. citizens," Castaneda said. "That should be part of the consideration in the U.S. immigration enforcement efforts. The children are lost in the process. The children's needs should be considered and weighed."

For every two immigrants arrested, one child was left. Most of the children were 10 or younger. In New Bedford, Mass., about 71 percent of children were younger than 6.

Two-thirds of the children were U.S. citizens, meaning they are eligible for public benefits such as food stamps or Medicaid.

The children were without care, often stranded at schools and child-care facilities.

The report states that the burden of caring for the children separated from their primary parent largely falls to local systems.

Schools quickly mobilized in the communities to make sure bus drivers did not drop off children at empty houses, and some schools used classrooms as shelters for children, the report states.

Families usually turned to churches and religious institutions for help because they trust faith-based groups, the report states. Extended family members, some of whom also were illegal immigrants, would take in the separated children.

"Overall, the local response particularly by churches and faith-based organization and community leaders helped avert a bigger crisis of the children's well-being," Castaneda said.

"The families will seek assistance first from faith-based groups before public social service agencies. They trust the church. They feel safe, do not feel they have to show identification or feel judged. They can also seek spiritual nurturing and support."

Families faced economic instability after the arrests because of the loss of the primary breadwinner and costs associated with the immigration process, the report states.

The families were reluctant to approach social service agencies for help, fearful of more arrests of family members. The immediate needs were food, baby formula, diapers and clothing.

"On the days and weeks following the raids, families often hid in their homes and needed organizations and leaders to bring assistance to them," Castaneda said.

Nearly all the children showed behavior and/or emotional change, she said.

"The separation from their primary parent came with a change in child care followed by economic deprivation," Castaneda said. "All of those create multiple risks for mental health problems."

The emotional, behavioral and mental health changes in children are short-term impacts, Castaneda said. The institute plans to do further studies on the long-term effects.

The report can be found online at www.urban.org.

Preparation for caring for legal immigrant children left behind

• Make efforts at the federal level to ensure children are protected during worksite enforcement and other operations.
• Immigration officials should assume children will be left after raids and have a consistent plan for releasing parents.
• Single parents and primary caregivers should be released early enough to avoid child-care interruptions. They should not be held overnight.
• Schools need a system to make sure children have a safe place to go after a raid.
• Social service agencies should prepare plans to assure immigrant families they can seek emergency assistance for the children left behind.
• Social services and economic assistance need to be provided over a prolonged period of time, until parents are released from detention.

Source: “Pay the Price: The Impact of Immigration Raids on America’s Children” report by the Urban Institute and National Council of La Raza

Ginnie Graham 581-8376
ginnie.graham@tulsaworld.com