Resources

Impacts of Immigration Policies on Families

By | Immigrant Families Research, Research, Research Highlight

Impacts of Immigration Policies on Families

Leisy J. Abrego & Lucia León, Annual Review of Sociology (January 23, 2025)

This review encourages scholars to broaden their research beyond the impacts of federal, state, and local laws on immigrant families to include experiences during the migration journey and at the border as these are also influenced by US immigration policies.

Duration in Immigration Detention and Health Harms

By | Detention, Immigrant Families Research, Research, Research Highlight

Duration in Immigration Detention and Health Harms

Altaf Saadi, Caitlin Patler, & Paola Langer; JAMA Network Open (January 24, 2025)

This study explores the association between duration of immigration detention and subsequent health outcomes, finding high prevalence of poor self-rated health, mental illness, and PTSD among recently detained US immigrants.

Five Things to Know About the Executive Order Targeting Immigrants and Federal Assistance Programs

By | Federal Policy, Law & Policy, Law/Policy Highlight, Legal/Law

Five Things to Know About the Executive Order Targeting Immigrants and Federal Assistance Programs

Ben D’Avanzo, National Immigration Law Center (February 20, 2025)

This article analyses the new executive order “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” which claims to target undocumented immigrants’ access to government assistance.

Factsheet: Trump’s Rescission of Protected Areas Policies Undermines Safety for All

By | Federal Policy, Immigration Enforcement, Law & Policy, Law/Policy Highlight, Legal/Law

Factsheet: Trump’s Rescission of Protected Areas Policies Undermines Safety for All

Lynn Damiano Pearson, National Immigration Law Center (February 26, 2025)

This factsheet reviews the protected areas policy, current applicable laws, and strategies for advocates and communities to ensure immigrants can continue accessing vital community resources and services.

A Toolkit for Professionals Serving Unaccompanied Children Experiencing Labor Exploitation

By | Immigrant Youth, Practice, Practice Highlight, Social Work, Social Workers, Unaccompanied Minors

A Toolkit for Professionals Serving Unaccompanied Children Experiencing Labor Exploitation

Kids in Need of Defense (January 6, 2025)

The CARE Intervention Toolkit equips professionals with a four-component framework—Connect, Assess, Respond, and Educate—to support unaccompanied children and youth in exploitative labor situations using principles of evidence-based Psychological First Aid.

The Laken Riley Act & Juvenile Delinquency

By | Detention, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Enforcement, Legal Professionals, Legal/Law, Practice, Practice Highlight

The Laken Riley Act & Juvenile Delinquency

Kathy Brady, Rachel Prandini, and Aruna Sury, Immigrant Legal Resource Center (February 7, 2025)

This practice advisory analyzes whether juvenile delinquency acts would trigger the mandatory immigration detention provisions of the Laken Riley Act, arguing they should not based on longstanding immigration precedent.

CICW Statement on Recent Immigration Executive Actions

By | Opportunities

CICW Statement on Recent Immigration Executive Actions

February 3, 2025 — The Center on Immigration and Child Welfare Initiative shares in the collective feelings of anger, frustration, and deep concern in response to the policy actions taken in the first weeks of the Trump presidency. A slew of executive orders and the rescission of protective policies and programs now threaten the safety, wellbeing, and futures of millions of children in immigrant families and other vulnerable communities. These actions do not merely create policy shifts; they instill fear, destabilize families, and inflict lasting trauma on children who deserve stability, dignity, and the right to thrive. Furthermore, these measures severely undermine our collective wellbeing, values, democracy, and identity as a nation of immigrants.

In this moment of uncertainty and hardship, we stand in unwavering solidarity with immigrant children and families, affirming their humanity and rightful place in our communities. We stand resolute and prepared to ensure that child welfare agencies, practitioners, and their partners are informed of their rights and equipped with the tools to mitigate the impending harms to the immigrant children and families they serve. With a steadfast commitment to justice, we will continue to advocate, educate, and mobilize efforts to uphold the fundamental rights and protections that all children deserve.

We reaffirm our dedication to safeguarding the futures of immigrant children and strengthening the systems meant to protect them. We call on our partners, allies, and communities to join us in this urgent fight to uphold the values of equity, compassion, and justice for all children and families.

CICW Research Workgroup: SSWR 29th Annual Conference Recap

By | Opportunities

CICW Research Workgroup: SSWR 29th Annual Conference Recap

Society for Social Work & Research (January 15th-19th, 2025)

Members of the CICW Research Workgroup presented the following oral paper, symposium, and roundtable at the SSWR 29th Annual Conference.

The 2016 United States Election and Financial Support to Migrant-Serving Legal-Aid Organizations

By | Research, Research Highlight

The 2016 United States Election and Financial Support to Migrant-Serving Legal-Aid Organizations

Juan Pedroza, Stephanie Potochnick, and Robert Santillano; International Migration Review (January 12, 2025)

This study explores how the 2016 election impacted immigrant-serving community-based organizations, finding that migrant-legal CBOs mobilized against the anti-immigrant environment to secure and maintain funding.

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