The Effects of Forced Family Separation in the Rio Grande Valley

Today we held a press conference sharing new research released by Human Impact Partners, a Pew Charitable Trust-funded health advocacy group partnered with LUPE. That shows for the first time the impact of Texas’s controversial anti sanctuary city law SB4 on the health families across the RGV and in cities and towns where local police act as federal immigration agents.

Support our work as we organize local leaders to push for public policies that protect children and families from the devastating effects of anti sanctuary city laws like SB4.

Immigration policies like SB4 are tearing families apart and causing physical & mental trauma to children and adults. This new report clearly shows the harmful health consequences of Texas requiring local law enforcement to work with federal immigration officials as required by SB4.

Our research found that among the families surveyed in which at least one parent was undocumented, 29 percent of children experienced severe stress. Nineteen percent, about four times the national average, of all families participating in the study reported children experiencing symptoms of PTSD.

An estimated 75,000 children in the Rio Grande Valley live in mixed-status families, where one or more of their parents is undocumented. In 2017 alone 1,800 US-born kids from the RGV had a parent deported by ICE.

As the fight over the law plays out in court we continue to organize and push for public policies that protect children and families from the devastating effects of laws like SB4.

To read the full report visit www.FamilyUnityFamilyHealth.com