Expert: Family Separation Policy Has Lasting Consequences For Kids

Published: Thursday, June 14, 2018 - 4:45pm
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Federal officials have said family separation policy aims to discourage would-be undocumented immigrants, but child welfare advocates say it has serious consequences for children.

Forty five people facing federal prosecution in Tucson, between May 14 and June 12, said in open court that they were forcibly separated from their kids, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. But the total number of separations in Arizona during that time is likely higher because it does not include those who tried to enter the country legally through a port of entry, the ACLU said.

The U.S. causes lasting damage by separating kids from their parents, said Dr. Chandra Ghosh Ippen, associate director of the Child Trauma Research Program at the University of California, San Francisco. 

“Early childhood experiences shape children’s core beliefs about themselves and the world,” she said. “Beliefs like, am I loveable? Am I valuable? Am I safe? Can I trust other people?”

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