Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Too many children are being separated by their families when they immigrate to the United States. Family unit apprehensions increased from more than 11,000 in year 2012 to 68,560 in the first nine months of 2018, apprehending families mostly from Mexico and Central America. Health and Human Services identified 2,551 minors ages 5 to 17 years old were taken into custody and were potentially separated from their parents at the time of entry into the U.S. Many immigrants from the region are fleeing from their countries to escape extreme violence, torture, harm, and persecution, making them a highly vulnerable population. The criminalization approach of immigrants is an attempt to deter immigrants from illegally entering the country, with family separation perceived as a consequence of the enforcement. Immigration laws in the U.S. cause reunification to be nearly impossible with border security, nuclear family requirement, and limited economic opportunities within immigration laws, maintaining the separation of immigrants from their families. Detention and deportation are two methods of separation of immigrant families that are typically discussed, contributing to the significant increase of mixed status families in the U.S. About 16.7 million people have at least one unauthorized member of their household, resulting in short and long-term consequences for families. This paper examines the several social costs, short and long-term health impacts on children, and the immediate effect on economic and emotional well-being of immigrant families, affecting economic stability and long-term integration in the U.S.

This paper suggests modifying the proposed REUNITE (“Reunite EVERY Unaccompanied Newborn Infant, Toddler and other children Expeditiously”) Act, introduced to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in 2018, that aims to reunite families separated at or near ports of entry and establish a permanent system of coordination between agencies and non-governmental organizations to protect detained immigrants with children, a direct approach within both the U.S. immigration system and the child welfare system. The modification will include extending the definition of “family” beyond parent and child relationships to increase family reunification opportunities outside the nuclear family model. For the 2018 fiscal year, 480,000 migrant apprehensions are predicted to occur at the U.S. Southwest border. Family reunification is essential for promoting immigrant integration, social and economic well-being, and intergenerational mobility, especially in a country where limited federal support for immigrants’ integration and welfare policies exist. With this proposal, the federal government can transform current comprehensive immigration policy and practice by expanding the family definition beyond the nuclear model, expediting family reunification, and improving provisions of immigrant services for sustainable community integration.