Unseen Costs: The Direct and Indirect Impact of U.S. Immigration Policies on Child and Adolescent Health and Well‐Being

Abstract

Shifts in migration and border control policies may increase the likelihood of trauma exposure related to child-parent separation and result in costs to the health system and society. In the present study, we estimated direct and indirect costs per child as well as overall cohort costs of border control policies on migrant children and adolescents who were separated from their parents, detained, and placed in the custody of the United States following the implementation of the 2018 Zero Tolerance Policy. Economic modeling techniques, including a Markov process and Monte Carlo simulation, based on data from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network's Core Data Set (N = 458 migrant youth) and published studies were used to estimate economic costs associated with three immigration policies: No Detention, Family Detention, and Zero Tolerance. Clinical evaluation data on mental health symptoms and disorders were used to estimate the initial health state and risks associated with additional trauma exposure for each scenario. The total direct and indirect costs per child were conservatively

Developmental Neuroscience Informs Policy Related to Migrant and Refugee Children's Mental Health

“…In addition to aligning with fundamental humanitarian and moral considerations underscored throughout this paper, these recommendations align with practical and economic considerations raised by others (Mattingly et al, 2020). Preventing migration-related trauma and providing critical mental health resources will both reduce the staggering burden of mental health disorders on societal well-being (SAMHSA, 2022;Vos et al, 2020) and the immense economic burden of mental health disorders (Knapp & Wong, 2020;Mattingly et al, 2020). In doing so, policymakers can continue to build a society that fundamentally values and promotes the health and well-being of the most vulnerable individuals among us--children desperately needing safety and care from situations and trauma beyond their control.…”

“…Local, state, and federal legislators should act swiftly to implement the outlined recommendations. In addition to aligning with fundamental humanitarian and moral considerations underscored throughout this paper, these recommendations align with practical and economic considerations raised by others (Mattingly et al, 2020). Preventing migration-related trauma and providing critical mental health resources will both reduce the staggering burden of mental health disorders on societal well-being (SAMHSA, 2022;Vos et al, 2020) and the immense economic burden of mental health disorders (Knapp & Wong, 2020;Mattingly et al, 2020).…”

Addressing health inequities for children in immigrant families: Psychologists as leaders and links across systems.

“…Accessing timely, culturally sensitive, and linguistically concordant mental health services remains exceedingly difficult, particularly for CIF who are un- or underinsured, or whose parents do not speak English (Pineros-Leano et al, 2017). Heightened anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies in the past several years have augmented CIF’s fear and stress (Ornelas et al, 2020; Patler & Pirtle, 2018; Roche et al, 2021) and increased hesitancy to access institutional supports (Mattingly et al, 2020), including mental health services. Among youth who are eligible for safety net resources (e.g., food security, housing stability, parent training supports, or mental health services), many do not receive them due to confusion about eligibility and fear of jeopardizing their families (Yoshikawa et al, 2013).…”

“…Increased rates of encounters with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol at the southern border in 2021 indicate greater new migrant arrivals to the Southwest area (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 2022). Many CIF arrive with significant trauma histories due to prolonged stays in dangerous parts of Mexico and Central America caused by policies like the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP; Mattingly et al, 2020;Ornelas et al, 2020). MPP means that the U.S. government reverts certain Mexican citizens and nationals of countries other than back to their countries while their asylum proceedings are pending (Homeland Security, 2021).…”

Sănătatea Fizică Și Psiho-Socială a Copiilor Marcați De Migrația Parentală De Muncă

“…Problema migraţiei şi a efectelor sale continuă a fi în centrul atenţiei atât a specialiştilor, cât şi a societăţii civile [10,11,12,13]. Efectele pozitive şi cele negative ale migraţiei sunt resimţite de migranţi şi de societate în ansamblu, inclusiv de populaţia neimplicată în procesele migraţionale, cum ar fi: copiii migranţilor şi persoanele în etate în a căror grijă rămân aceştia [14,15,16]. Astăzi, plecarea părinţilor la muncă peste hotare a devenit o realitate care necesită o analiză minuțioasă.…”