Report looks at kids left behind
BY GINNIE GRAHAM World Staff Writer
Thursday, November 01, 2007
11/01/07 at 10:50 AM
Watch a slide show and read all the stories in a series on the immigration of thousands of people from Casa Blanca to Tulsa.
Read all of the Tulsa World’s coverage of House Bill 1804.
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.; Grand Island, Neb.; and
New Bedford, Mass. It did not
give an opinion about the use
of raids.
"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
