As a researcher with expertise on child development in immigrant and migrant families—and as someone whose own family experienced the strain of immigration policies that were far from family-friendly—I am deeply concerned about the impact current immigration enforcement actions have on young children and their families. Research shows that early childhood is a critical window for development, when stable relationships and supportive environments matter most1. Today, harsh immigration enforcement practices are disrupting those foundations for many families across the country2.
In the early 90s, my mother—single, young and determined to build a better life for herself and her toddler—made the difficult decision to immigrate to the United States. Although she entered the country legally, she was required to prove she could secure stable employment, housing and savings before she could bring my older sister here. For four long years, she worked tirelessly, doing everything she could to demonstrate she was “stable enough” to parent her own child. During that time, she had to raise my sister from afar, separated from her during some of the most critical years of early development. The emotional and physical toll of that distance weighed heavily on both of them.
Today, they are both U.S. citizens and grateful for the opportunities this country has offered. But the pain of those early years—the forced separation, the missed everyday moments, the enduring effects of policies that were anything but family-friendly—echoed through our family for a long time.
My family is not alone in this experience.
Today, harsh immigration enforcement practices continue to disrupt and destabilize families with young children across the country, regardless of their immigration status. The news cycle around enforcement may have quieted in recent weeks, but that does not lessen the current and future impacts on young children and their families. The realities of family separation and the trauma, fear, and confusion caused by harsh immigration enforcement tactics carry serious consequences for children’s early development and the well-being of their families3. Equally troubling are the lasting effects these experiences will likely have on children and their families and communities4.
The Hidden Developmental Costs of Family Separation
Secure attachment and strong parent–child bonds are fundamental to early development. Especially for families with infants, toddlers and preschoolers, these processes can be undermined when families face separation, deportation or the chronic stress associated with immigration enforcement. Young children may experience trauma or strained parent–child relationships, which can contribute to early emotional and behavioral difficulties like challenges with executive functioning and self-regulation5,6,7. Children whose early bonding with parents or primary caregivers is interrupted are also more likely to face lower self-esteem and identity difficulties, challenges in forming or maintaining healthy relationships and mental health problems throughout childhood, adolescence and even into adulthood8,9.
Fear of Separation Disrupts Access to Essential Services
Harsh enforcement actions compound risks to children’s short- and long-term outcomes by disrupting families’ access to essential services. Heightened fears of leaving the home, along with raids occurring in childcare programs and schools, have led to decreased enrollment and participation in educational, health, and social programs10. As a result, families access care and supports inconsistently or not at all, meaning they may not receive the help they need or may benefit far less from the programs available to them11. These harsh immigration enforcement actions also fuel ongoing fear and mistrust, further discouraging families from engaging with services designed to support them12,13. Over time, this disengagement can cause families to miss out on resources – negatively affecting young children’s developmental and learning trajectories and resulting in long-term health, educational, or financial consequences.
The Impact of Stress and Trauma on Developing Brains
Even in homes that strive to provide safe, nurturing environments, children still absorb what is happening around them. Many may experience fear, anxiety, and confusion about immigration enforcement—regardless of whether they are directly impacted—which can affect their cognitive and social-emotional development14. During early childhood, when the brain is rapidly developing, exposure to stress or trauma can weaken neural connections, disrupt brain pathways, and impair cognitive functioning15,16. These early disruptions can later manifest as emotional and behavioral problems, chronic mental health issues, and difficulties forming healthy relationships with peers and adults17. When children experience early trauma of this magnitude, the foundation for long-term success is weakened. Cognitive and social-emotional difficulties can persist into later schooling and adulthood, undermining academic achievement and increasing the risk of chronic mental health challenges, emotional dysregulation, and strained relationships18,19.
Economic Instability Deepens the Harm
Economic hardship adds yet another layer of instability. Because of family separation—or even the fear of it—families with young children can face significant economic hardship. When a parent is detained or deported, their income disappears overnight, leaving families on unsteady ground. Even families who remain physically together may feel too afraid to leave their homes for work20. As family income declines, children may face increased food insecurity or risk losing stable housing21.
Protecting Young Children and Families
Start Early recognizes the serious threats that current immigration enforcement actions pose to the well‑being of young children and their families. For more than 40 years, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that every child is safe, well cared for and able to learn and grow through uninterrupted access to high‑quality early care and education. We aim to protect early childhood systems by strengthening our work as a direct service provider, standing in solidarity with peer organizations, conducting field-building research, and advancing policy and systems‑change efforts at the community, state, and national levels so families continue to receive the supports they deserve. For example, as a result of advocacy efforts led by Start Early and partners, the Illinois state government recently passed Safe Spaces legislation to protect licensed childcare centers. The new law includes clear procedures for responding to immigration enforcement and communicating with families, helping ensure childcare settings remain safe and trusted spaces for children and parents.
Ensuring that young children can grow up in safe, stable and supportive environments requires continued collaboration among researchers, advocates, policymakers, and community leaders. Policies that separate families or engender fear and instability undermine the very foundations children need to thrive. If we truly want children to succeed in school and in life, we must build systems that protect families—not tear them apart.
