www.arc.org/shatteredfamilies

http://www.crin.org/docs/ARC_Report_Shattered_Families_FULL_REPORT_Nov2011Release.pdf

A new report from the Applied Research Center (ARC) conservatively estimates that there are more than 5,000 children currently living in foster care whose parents have been either detained or deported.  To date, there has been no national data available on the numbers of children impacted by the intersection of immigration enforcement and child welfare systems.

"Shattered Families" offers groundbreaking national research on the perilous intersection of immigration enforcement and the child welfare system. Historic levels of detention and deportation, combined with a clear lack of child welfare policies are resulting in the separation of thousands of families across the United States. These families face formidable barriers to reunification, and in many cases will be permanently separated. ARC projected that at least 15,000 more children will face these threats to reunification in the next five years, if the same rate holds true for new cases.

“Immigration enforcement greatly increases the chances that families will never see each other again,” said ARC President Rinku Sen. “Detaining and deporting parents shatters families and endangers the children left behind. It’s unacceptable, un-American, and a clear sign that we need to revisit our immigration policies.”

In fiscal year 2011, the United States deported a record-breaking 397,000 people and detained nearly that many. According to never before released federal data acquired by ARC through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, a growing number of deportees are parents. In the first six months of 2011, the federal government removed more than 46,000 mothers and fathers of U.S.-citizen children.

For the first time, ARC’s “Shattered Families” provides evidence on the scale and scope of this growing national problem.  These impacts are not confined to border jurisdictions or states. In fact, ARC identified at least 22 states across the country where children in foster care are separated from their parents because of immigration enforcement.

“Our research found time and again that families are being left out of decision-making when it comes to the care and custody of their children,” said Seth Freed Wessler, author and principal investigator of “Shattered Families.” “As a result, children of detained and deported parents are likely to remain in foster care when they could be with their own family.”

“Shattered Families” analyses these problems, identifies key barriers, and presents policy recommendations for Department of Homeland Security, various levels of legislature, state child welfare departments, and juvenile dependency courts on how we can better protect families from separation and reunify families in a timely way.

Previous Paper (general) items

• 17/10/2011: JAPAN: OPSC report on sexual exploitation and child-friendly justice
• 17/10/2011: MOROCCO: OPSC report on sexual exploitation and child-friendly justice
• 17/10/2011: POLAND: OPSC report on sexual exploitation and child-friendly justice
• 27/09/2011: Review of the International Case Law Concerning Children Affected by Armed Conflicts
• 15/09/2011: Poverty and gender inequalities: evidence from young lives

Contact Information:

Applied Research Centre - New York
32 Broadway, Suite 1801
New York, NY 10004
p. 212.513.7925
f. 212.513.1367

Last updated 07/11/2011 09:04:12

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.

Your Feedback

Clipper Ordiway wrote on 19/11/2011:
I would like to address the "The Adoption and Safe Families Act, 1997", the 1988 CAPTA, "The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act" under which the Federal government provides the funding, by means of grants, that support state Child Protective Services (CPS), and the ‘‘Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act’’, Section 425 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 625). When CPS can steal children under the colour of law then it really needs to be looked at. When these Acts were declared I am sure that all good intentions were there, but because of greed these Acts have gone out of control. I don't think that paying bonuses to case workers or their organisations should be a factor. These organisations are here to help those who need it, not for their own gain. As you can see, this is not just an immigration problem. It is a problem for ALL children. It is the greed and corruption of the entire child protective system. Follow the money, bonuses and financial gain.