Support for Immigrant and Mixed Status Families

By Joanne Loeb

Following the recent presidential election there have been growing concerns about impending changes in immigration policy and the safety and security of immigrant families, especially those with mixed status. Threats of mass deportation expressed during the presidential campaign have naturally created fear and anxiety among those affected. Immigration advocates recommend that families at risk take these threats seriously and consult local immigration advocacy organizations to learn about their rights and to put plans in place to safeguard their children and the well-being of their family unit. We learned about such a plan in May 2024, during our annual conference.

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NYZTT’s annual spring conference titled “The Border Is Here: Addressing Trauma and Loss in Mixed Status and Immigrant Families with Young Children” featured presenters Carmen Rosa Noroña and Ivys Fernandez from the Center for Excellence in Immigrant IECMH at Boston Medical Center. They described the impact of immigration policy enforcement on young children and families in the context of their experienced history of displacement and systemic oppression. They highlighted the traumatic impact of threats of separation or forcible separation on children and their caregivers when harsh immigration policies are enforced.

They introduced the “Family Preparedness Plan” that they have created as a developmentally appropriate, trauma- and diversity-informed tool to support and empower immigrant families in the face of a sudden, unexpected separation. It includes issues such as who will be the child’s caregiver if the parent is detained or deported and how to talk to the child about the separation. 

We provide the link to this plan (https://www.bmc.org/programs/center-family-navigation-and-community-health-promotion/resources) with the hope that others will share it with families at risk and continue the process of creating a supportive community for all families. We also ask that others join us in sharing resources that might be helpful to families who are confronted with threats of separation and displacement, and we will include that information in our upcoming newsletters.