How ICE enforcement stress affects kids — and what parents can do
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Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios; Photo: Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune and Scott Olson/Getty Images
As the Trump administration ramps up federal immigration enforcement, experts say children across the country may be absorbing the fear and uncertainty of ICE operations.
Why it matters: Experiencing traumatic events in childhood can create lasting physical and mental health challenges that extend into adulthood, Sita Patel, a clinical psychology professor at Palo Alto University, tells Axios.
The big picture: Patricia Lopez Ruiz, a bilingual therapist at the Mattie Rhodes Center who works in schools, tells Axios that some children who are aware of a relative's immigration status have experienced a major increase in anxiety and stress symptoms.
- Exposure to constant media coverage, unpredictability and violence creates stress and trauma that Patel says "will absolutely have an impact on many people's life course in terms of health and capacity to contribute and thrive."
Zoom in: Kids may come to school tired, distracted or struggling to concentrate, Lopez Ruiz says.
- Younger children may have more tantrums or act out when they feel dysregulated.
- Children may also show stress through withdrawal, avoidance, changes in eating, or loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed, she says.
What to expect: Lopez Ruiz urges parents to look for changes in routines and behavior, including isolation from friends or developmental regression in younger children.
- Parents often notice small shifts first, she says. If concerns persist, families can seek counseling or case management support. The Mattie Rhodes Center offers bilingual behavioral health services in KC.
The latest: Holding New Therapy, a Kansas-based virtual practice, recently launched a two-week support group, Parenting During an Immigration Crisis, for parents from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.
- Licensed clinical social worker Ana Regalado-Gil says she created the group after noticing a rise in anxiety in her office and community.
- Some children worry their parents "won't come home," she says. Others have nightmares, refuse to go to school, or ask for constant reassurance.
Regalado recommends maintaining predictable routines, setting clear after-school plans, limiting exposure to stressful news, and using age-appropriate language when answering questions.
- "The goal is to help families build resilience, not pretending the stress isn't here," Regalado-Gil says.
The bottom line: Therapists say children often absorb fear even when adults try to shield them from it. Noticing changes early and talking openly can help prevent stress from deepening.
Go deeper: ICE's detention of child puts new focus on Trump team's tactics