Category

Immigrant Youth

An Examination of Immigration Status and Its Implications for Transition-Age Youth in the Child Welfare System

By | Foster Care, Immigrant Youth, Law & Policy, Social Work, State Policies, State Policy

An Examination of Immigration Status and Its Implications for Transition-Age Youth in the Child Welfare System

Anthony Gómez, Kristina K. Lovato, Andrea Lane Eastman, and Mark E. Courtney; Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services (June 28, 2025)

This policy brief analyzes administrative California child welfare data of undocumented immigrant youth in foster care, finding that immigration status data is often missing and that both U.S. citizens and undocumented youth were more likely to have transition plans than legal residents, highlighting needs for better services and data collection.

Understanding the Needs of Unaccompanied Immigrant Children Separated from their Parents during the “Zero Tolerance” Policy in the US: A Systematic Review of the Literature

By | Child Well-Being, Family Separation, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Enforcement, Research, Research Highlight, Unaccompanied Minors, Unaccompanied Minors Research

Understanding the Needs of Unaccompanied Immigrant Children Separated from their Parents during the “Zero Tolerance” Policy in the US: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Kristina Lovato, Daniel Hieu Thuan Bui, & Michelle Zaragoza; Children & Youth Services Review (June 2025)

This systematic review highlights mental health and social service outcomes of children forcibly separated from their parents during and following the Zero Tolerance Policy and examines barriers and facilitators in accessing social services upon their release from US detention facilities.

Immigration Enforcement at All Costs: How the Trump Administration is Endangering Unaccompanied Immigrant Children

By | Child Well-Being, Federal Policy, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Enforcement, Law & Policy, Law/Policy Highlight, Safety, Unaccompanied Minors

Immigration Enforcement at All Costs: How the Trump Administration is Endangering Unaccompanied Immigrant Children

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights and National Immigrant Justice Center (May 25, 2025)

This explainer discusses how Congress and the administration have been undermining ORR’s ability to focus on child welfare, family reunification, and safety by tying ORR operations to immigration enforcement actions and provides recommendations on what can be done to support unaccompanied children.

Central American and Mexican Mothers and Youth Migration-Related Separations and Reunifications

By | Family Separation, Immigrant Families Research, Immigrant Youth, Research, Research Highlight, Trauma

Central American and Mexican Mothers and Youth Migration-Related Separations and Reunifications

Jodi Berger Cardoso, Arlene Bjugstad, et al., Journal of Loss and Trauma (April 5, 2025)

This study explores the challenges faced by Mexican and Central American mothers and youth reunifying in the U.S. after migration-related separations, highlighting the ongoing trauma, ambiguous loss, migratory grief, and attachment disruptions that impact their relationships, while also noting mothers’ efforts to repair these bonds.

How can child protection agencies address the immigration needs of non-citizen children in foster care?

By | Foster Care, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Relief, Language Issues, Practice, Practice Highlight, Social Work, Social Workers, State Policies

How can child protection agencies address the immigration needs of non-citizen children in foster care?

Casey Family Programs (March 25, 2025)

This resource reviews key considerations and recommendations on how child protection agencies can address the immigration needs of non-citizen children in foster care.

Quick Guide: Defending SIJS Clients in Removal Proceedings

By | Deportation, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Relief, Legal Professionals, Legal/Law, Practice, Practice Highlight, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)

Quick Guide: Defending SIJS Clients in Removal Proceedings

Immigrant Legal Resource Center & End SIJS Backlog Coalition

This advisory outlines strategies for advocating against a client’s deportation and ensuring a strong record for appeal during removal proceedings for clients seeking SIJS.

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.

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