Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Volume 39, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 412-435

Charting Directions for Research on Immigrant Children Affected by Undocumented Status (Article)

Zayas L.H.* , Brabeck K.M. , Heffron L.C. , Dreby J. , Calzada E.J. , Parra-Cardona J.R. , Dettlaff A.J. , Heidbrink L. , Perreira K.M. , Yoshikawa H.
  • a The University of Texas at Austin, United States
  • b Rhode Island College, Providence, United States
  • c St. Edward’s University, Austin, TX, United States
  • d State University of New York, Albany, United States
  • e The University of Texas at Austin, United States
  • f The University of Texas at Austin, United States
  • g University of HoustonTX, United States
  • h California State University, Long Beach, United States
  • i University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
  • j New York University, New York city, United States

Abstract

Three groups of children from Mexico and Central America are vulnerable to effects of U.S. immigration policies: (1) foreign-born children who entered the United States with undocumented immigrant parents; (2) unaccompanied children who entered the United States alone; and (3) U.S.-born citizen-children of undocumented immigrant parents. Despite the recent demographic growth of these youth, scholarship on their strengths and challenges is under-theorized and isolated within specific disciplines. Hence, service providers, researchers, and policymakers have insufficient research to inform their efforts to support the children’s well-being. A group of scholars and service providers with expertise in immigrant children convened to establish consensus areas and identify gaps in knowledge of undocumented, unaccompanied, and citizen-children of undocumented immigrant parents. The primary goal was to establish a research agenda that increases interdisciplinary collaborations, informs clinical practice, and influences policies. This report summarizes key issues and recommendations that emerged from the meeting. © 2017, © The Author(s) 2017.

Author Keywords

Unaccompanied children Refugees Undocumented immigrants citizen-children

Index Keywords

consensus male case report female human juvenile scientist Central America refugee clinical practice Mexico immigration wellbeing undocumented immigrant Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85033469798&doi=10.1177%2f0739986317722971&partnerID=40&md5=eff2dc75ae16127265a6ea510662ffbe
DOI: 10.1177/0739986317722971
ISSN: 07399863
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English