Recent deportations by ICE, including the separation of a Cuban mother from her 1-year-old and the deportation of Honduran mothers and their U.S. citizen children, are raising legal concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
Girasol has 3 upcoming trainings on topics related to working with immigrant populations, including:
This webinar will present findings from a survey of over 2,000 Spanish-speaking immigrants, offering insights into their experiences, needs, and resistance strategies within the current political climate.
This new book contain two chapters that address issues for immigrant children and families who become involved with the child welfare system.
This article explores the implications of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts on the millions of U.S. citizen children living with undocumented family members, and the state and local child welfare systems that may serve them.
April 22, 2025 — In partnership with the Berkeley School of Social Welfare, the Latinx and Democracy Cluster (LDC) Speaker Series, and the Center on Immigration and Child Welfare Initiative (CICW), Dr. Kristina Lovato, Assistant Professor of Social Welfare and Director of the CICW, hosted Dr. Luis Zayas, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, for a powerful presentation titled “Immigration Enforcement: Facing A New Reality of An Age-Old Phenomenon.”
Drawing from his award-winning book, Through Iceboxes and Kennels: How Immigration Detention Harms Children and Families, Dr. Zayas shared research findings on the psychological and social impacts of immigration detention on asylum-seeking families. He presented a theoretical model of migration from Central America, highlighting the profound effects of post-migration experiences—particularly immigration enforcement—on children’s attachment, development, and mental health. Using visual models of disrupted development, Dr. Zayas illustrated how forced family separations and detention environments damage children’s wellbeing.
The discussion also explored how practitioners and service organizations can more effectively support immigrant families amidst growing uncertainty about the future of immigration enforcement policies. Dr. Zayas emphasized the urgent need for trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and systemic approaches to serve impacted communities.
On March 24–25, CICW Director Dr. Kristina Lovato and Program Manager Sophia Sepp represented the CICW at Uniting to Meet the Moment: Cross-Coalition Convening to Protect Children in Immigrant Families in Washington, D.C. This powerful event was hosted by the Children Thrive Action Network, Child Care for Every Family Network, Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition, and the Automatic Benefit for Children Coalition.
As we look ahead to a pivotal four-year period—one that is expected to bring intensified policy threats at both federal and state levels—this convening was a timely and urgent call to action. This gathering brought together leaders and advocates working at the intersection of child welfare and immigration to strengthen relationships, build alignment, and strategize for the challenges ahead.
The convening offered a unique opportunity to deepen collaboration across key child-focused and immigrant justice coalitions. Together, participants explored ways to amplify collective advocacy, respond to harmful policies with unity and strength, and advance a bold, pro-immigrant, pro-child agenda—one that centers the health, safety, and well-being of all children, regardless of immigration status.
Kristina and Sophia were proud to join this national effort and are excited to bring back insights, strategies, and new partnerships that will inform CICW’s work in the months and years to come.
This research brief provides insight into immigrant families’ experiences in the wake of the 2024 election, including worry about engaging in essential activities, deportation concerns, and taking protective steps to prepare for a potential changes to immigration status.
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.
This qualitative study examines the experiences of US immigrant mothers navigating healthcare amid competing demands and a harmful sociopolitical climate.
© 2025 CICW.