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Research Highlight

Implications of state policy context for the well-being of immigrant families with young children

By | Child Well-Being, Highlighted Resources, Immigrant Families Research, Research, Research Highlight, State Policies

Implications of state policy context for the well-being of immigrant families with young children

Kevin Ferreira van Leer, et al., American Journal of Community Psychology (January 15, 2025)

This mixed-methods study explored how state-level social policy exclusions for immigrants are associated with the well-being of immigrant parents and development of their children.

“But who takes care of the mom?”: The daily experiences of immigrant mothers navigating health in family life

By | Highlighted Resources, Immigrant Families Research, Parenting, Research, Research Highlight

“But who takes care of the mom?”: The daily experiences of immigrant mothers navigating health in family life

Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba et al., Social Science & Medicine (May 2025)

This qualitative study examines the experiences of US immigrant mothers navigating healthcare amid competing demands and a harmful sociopolitical climate.

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.

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.

“Do the right thing”: Immigrant perspectives of social worker support in the United States

By | Culture: Issues & Competencies, Immigrant Families Research, Research, Research Highlight, Social Work

“Do the right thing”: Immigrant perspectives of social worker support in the United States

Abha Rai, Mary Lehman Held, Melody Huslage, Eliza Galvez, Yigermal Demissie Ayalew, Leia Siksay; International Journal of Social Welfare (February 26, 2024)

This study explored how social workers can better support immigrant communities, including through resources, advocacy, understanding, and “doing right” by immigrants.

Care under pressure: Policy contradictions of speedy release, safety, and placement suitability in ORR-contracted programs for unaccompanied migrant children

By | Child Well-Being, Foster Care, Immigrant Youth, Research, Research Highlight, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

Care under pressure: Policy contradictions of speedy release, safety, and placement suitability in ORR-contracted programs for unaccompanied migrant children

John Doering-White, Jessica Darrow, Breanne Grace, Benjamin Roth, Aimee Herring, & Stefan Liew; Children & Youth Services Review (February 2025)

This article explores the perspectives of 65 human service workers in ORR-contracted programs across four states on how they understand the policies that shape care for unaccompanied children and the challenges that exist.

The Impact of a Broken Immigration System on U.S. Students and Schools

By | Child Well-Being, Immigrant Families Research, Immigration Enforcement, Research Highlight

The Impact of a Broken Immigration System on U.S. Students and Schools

Patricia Gándara, Lucrecia Santibañez, Jongyeon Joy Ee, & Julieta Rico; UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools, Latino Policy and Politics Institute, and Civil Rights Project (December 4, 2023)

This research brief explores the the harmful consequences of immigration enforcement actions on Latinx children of undocumented immigrants and provides policy and practice recommendations to support immigrant students and their families.

“In Whose Best Interests? Comparing Children’s Treatment in Immigration Court and in Child Protection Hearings in Minnesota: Similar Issues Without the Relevant Tools or Best Interests Standard”

By | Child Welfare System Research, Immigrant Youth, Research Highlight, Unaccompanied Minors

“In Whose Best Interests? Comparing Children’s Treatment in Immigration Court and in Child Protection Hearings in Minnesota: Similar Issues Without the Relevant Tools or Best Interests Standard”

Susan Schmidt, Journal on Migration and Human Security (November 14, 2024)

This article compares the treatment of children in immigration court with the treatment of children in child protection proceedings in Minnesota, highlighting a prioritization of federal government interests over children’s best interests.

“We Need to Take Away Children”: Zero Accountability Six Years After “Zero Tolerance”

By | Family Separation, Immigrant Families Research, Immigration Enforcement, Research, Research Highlight

“We Need to Take Away Children”: Zero Accountability Six Years After “Zero Tolerance”

Michael Garcia Bochenek, Human Rights Watch (December 16, 2024)

This new report provides an in-depth look into the consequences of the first Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy, and finds that the resulting forcible family separations were an intentional, targeted policy choice despite knowledge of the inevitable human suffering.

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