As the illegal immigration issue continues to become a larger issue in the US, people are beginning to study the psychological affects of the way governmental agencies conduct their business on immigrants and their children. A recent study showed that immigration raids can have huge effects on children, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders.

At the three sites studied, officials had arrested 900 suspected illegal immigrants resulting in 500 children abruptly losing contact with their mother, father or both parents. That left them with a combination of unstable supervision, stress, emotional trauma and material needs that can lead to mental health disorders, researchers found.

This raises all sorts of issues that can complicate how to proceed with these affairs. The big question is whether deporting someone is worth the cost of the harm it can do to their children.

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Health Tips Blog » Immigration Raids & Mental Health (11/1/2007)

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 1 Nov 2007
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.