Immigration issues have always been complex, and the incoming administration’s emphasis on deportation is having a significant impact on mixed-status families.
When some family members have legal residency or citizenship, and others do not, the disparities can create legal, emotional, and socioeconomic challenges that lead to stress, separation, and disruption of familial roles.
Mixed-status families have always lived under a certain level of fear of deportation for their undocumented members. This creates stress for everybody, especially for children born in the United States who worry about their undocumented parents. The fear may keep families from accessing critical services like healthcare or from going to authorities for help when they’ve been victimized by unethical employers, landlords, and others. There may also be emotional strain from the stigma associated with being undocumented, and this can lead to feelings of shame or isolation within the community.
Immigration issues can limit undocumented family members’ ability to earn a living, no matter what their qualifications; these barriers to employment often force them to accept low-paying jobs, which affects their ability to meet their family’s basic needs or to pay legal fees for immigration proceedings.
If deportation or detention of a family member becomes a reality, it can lead to sudden and traumatic separations and hardship. Children may be forced to assume the responsibilities of the adult who’s no longer there or may have to adapt to new caretakers. This can have long-term emotional and psychological impacts, including anxiety, depression, or difficulty forming stable relationships.
Though the situation is challenging, there is help available. Experienced legal representation can make a real difference for undocumented family members trying to improve their chances of securing legal status, while there are many groups working to make comprehensive immigration reform a reality and hope that Congress can reach an agreement on a pathway to citizenship.
If you have family members who are undocumented, one of the best things you can do to help them is to make sure that you understand their rights and the services that are available to them. There are many community workshops you can access, information online, and advocates who are ready to help, Perhaps most importantly, it’s a good idea to seek legal representation to make sure that your family member is in the best possible legal position.