Fear at Home: Immigration Raids and the Children Left in Their Wake

By Margareth Thompson

The intensified immigration enforcement carried out by ICE under the Trump administration is creating profound stress, fear, uncertainty, and anxiety for many children in immigrant families. For those who have witnessed arrests or violence, the psychological impact can be especially severe. Yet even children in immigrant families who are not directly at risk of deportation are affected by the atmosphere of fear.

This climate of anxiety can place enormous strain on families’ daily lives. Parents may become afraid to go to parks, to work, or even to take their children to school. Children often sense and absorb this anxiety, which can manifest in emotional or behavioral changes. For some, the consequences may be long-lasting, including psychological trauma, “toxic stress,” developmental setbacks, and increased risk of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Erin Twiehaus, a bilingual therapist who works with immigrant families, has witnessed these effects firsthand. Twiehaus is a clinical social worker with the Rocky Mountain Welcome Center’s mental health program. She described one family with a 4-year-old whose behavior changed dramatically. The child began having “tantrums out of nowhere, screaming, and crying for the parent who is undocumented,” and also struggled with sleep. Meanwhile, the documented parent developed a panic disorder. Twiehaus used play therapy with the child and worked with both parents to develop strategies that could strengthen the child’s sense of safety and improve communication within the family.

According to Twiehaus, the current climate feels different from previous periods of immigration enforcement because even immigrants with documentation may fear arrest. In this context, traditional reassurances may ring hollow. “Reassurance for children doesn’t come from telling them, ‘Don’t worry, we will always come home’ or ‘Nothing will happen to us,’” she said. Instead, she encourages caregivers to shift their language: “I will always love you. I will always think about you. I will always do the best that I can. And I will always care about you.”

In another case, Twiehaus worked with a mother who had recently become a single parent after the children’s father was unable to cross the border into the United States. The mother faced intense pressure as she struggled to manage parenting responsibilities, finances, and the emotional needs of her children. Tensions and conflict in the household escalated as stress mounted.

Although parents can often serve as buffers against trauma, they may find that role difficult to sustain when they themselves are overwhelmed. Twiehaus worked with this family to acknowledge that parents are human and may not always have the capacity to give their children 100% of their attention or support. She encouraged the children to understand this reality and to seek comfort and help from siblings, extended family members, friends, or trusted adults at school. She also suggested simple coping strategies, such as resting or engaging in calming activities like coloring.

Families with adolescents face similar pressures. In the current political and social climate, stress can contribute to arguments and conflict between parents and teenagers. Twiehaus notes that adolescents are already navigating significant identity and cultural transitions as they adjust to new schools and environments. Fear experienced by both parents and children can intensify these challenges.

Parents may also struggle to understand changes in their teenagers’ behavior, particularly when adolescents begin experimenting with risk-taking, defiance, or substance use. For some parents, these behaviors are especially troubling because they resemble conditions the family hoped to escape when leaving their home country.

Twiehaus works with families to expand and strengthen their support networks, encouraging connections with neighbors, school staff, faith communities, and other trusted groups and individuals as a way to cope with ongoing stress. She also emphasizes that support from allies should be culturally responsive and grounded in the families’ actual needs. Without that awareness, she warns, well-intentioned efforts can fall into a “white savior” pattern based on faulty assumptions and misunderstandings.

Resource:  “Staying Whole: A Love Letter to Immigrant Parents” by the Children Thrive Action Network. Free support guide for immigrant parents shaped by the insights and experiences of families impacted by immigration enforcement throughout the country.  The guide invites parents to reflect on their own mental health, guides them through safety planning, and offers tips on how to talk to and support their children. Created by CTAN in partnership with In partnership with the National Parents Union and Little Justice Leaders,  Available in English and Spanish.