Federal Anti-Immigration Policy Hurting Children, Report Says
Suzanne Potter, Public News Service – CA
LOS ANGELES – In California, 1.3 million children younger than age
five may lose out on essential services because of a hostile immigration
climate, according to a new report.
Researchers from two children’s advocacy groups found that the Trump
administration’s anti-immigrant policies and heightened law enforcement
have had major impacts on children up to age five.
Andrea Lopez, family and community engagement coordinator at Para Los Niños,
which runs Head Start child care centers in Los Angeles, says families
are dropping out of crucial programs for fear of being deported.
“That’s been the most heart-wrenching thing for us, is seeing their
struggle and the fear that has been embedded in them,” she states.
Lopez says many families are refusing all forms of public assistance,
even for their American citizen children, mistakenly believing that this
would be held against them when applying for residency.
President Donald Trump says his policies are designed to reinforce the rule of law and save taxpayer dollars.
Mayra Alvarez, a report coauthor and president of The Children’s Partnership,
an advocacy organization focused on children’s health equity, says many
children suffer, terrified that their parents won’t be there when they
get home from school.
“The kids are becoming more aggressive,” she points out. “There’s also
greater separation anxiety. Social withdrawal, being more stressed out
as a result of this environment.”
Patricia Lozano, another coauthor and executive director of Early Edge California,
an advocacy organization focused on early learning, encourages state
policymakers to pass a law that declares preschools and day care centers
off limits to immigration officers – something already in place at K-12
schools in the state.
“Early childhood programs should be safe places for families, and the
providers and teachers need the support to provide the right resources
to face this hostile environment,” she stresses.
California demonstrated its commitment to early childhood programs by
allocating funds in the new state budget to train home visitors from the
Cal Works program on ways to blunt the impact of federal immigration
policies and help families connect to needed services.Disclosure:
The Children’s Partnership contributes to our fund for reporting on
Children’s Issues, Immigrant Issues, Mental Health, Youth Issues. If
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