The American journal of orthopsychiatry
Volume 84, Issue 5, 2014, Pages 496-505

The psychosocial impact of detention and deportation on U.S. migrant children and families (Review)

Brabeck K.M. , Lykes M.B. , Hunter C.
  • a Department of Counseling, Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology, Lynch School of Education, Boston College, United States
  • b Department of Counseling, Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology, Lynch School of Education, Boston College, United States
  • c Department of Counseling, Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology, Lynch School of Education, Boston College, United States

Abstract

Approximately 4.5 million U.S. citizen children live in mixed-status families, in which at least 1 family member is an unauthorized migrant and therefore vulnerable to detention and deportation from the United States (Passel & Cohn, 2011). This article critically examines the current state of the literature on the psychosocial consequences of detention and deportation for unauthorized migrants, mixed-status families, and their U.S.-born children. In particular, drawing on social and psychological theory and research, we (a) review the impact of parents' unauthorized status on children; (b) summarize the literature on the impact of detention processes on psychosocial well-being; (c) describe the dilemma faced by a mixed-status family when a parent faces deportation; (d) examine the current social scientific literature on how parental deportation impacts children and their families; and (e) summarize several policy recommendations for protecting children and families.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

policy Emigration and Immigration Transients and Migrants public policy Child Development migration human rights legislation and jurisprudence United States human Humans family psychology Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84933050612&doi=10.1037%2fort0000011&partnerID=40&md5=1331903b28539f226dcba270ca800c52
DOI: 10.1037/ort0000011
ISSN: 19390025
Cited by: 32
Original Language: English