(Newswire.net — July 20, 2020) — When thinking about families in general, one of the first images that come to mind is the children. The world today presents many hurdles and difficulties for many and minors are no exception, on the contrary, they face those and many other problems. And when immigration issues are added to the mix, their situation becomes even more dire. Let’s see how immigration laws have impacted them and their families.
How many children are caught up in the immigration turmoil these days?
Children of all immigrants living now in the United States amount to almost 20 million. This large group includes asylum seekers, refugees, recipients of specific temporary protection status or of the DACA program, and unaccompanied minors. Not all of them are detained at the border, on the contrary, they live in every state and the group also encompasses children that, although born in the United States, have at least one parent that is an immigrant.
The media has also run countless features on children that have been separated from their parents upon entering through the southern border and many that have been kept in detention alongside their families.
What challenges do immigrant children face?
Being a very vulnerable group, immigrant children face both physical and mental challenges. Going through the process of requesting asylum, being stuck in detention centers, having difficulty gaining access to health coverage and mental health care, result in detriment to their health.
The family separation policy, specifically, has been associated with severe and long-lasting health, social, and psychological issues. Starting with the fact that in detention centers many of them have no access to even a blanket or personal hygiene products, the true impact of immigration on young children is hard to quantify.
What happens to children when parents are deported?
The United States has increasingly taken an uncompromising position on immigration enforcement. Therefore, the number of immigrants being deported has increased steadily. The fact that these individuals have children who are U. S. citizens and they are their primary provider seems to have no bearing on their deportation proceedings.
As people face the threat of being deported, entire families end up being ripped apart. Minors who are left behind are placed into foster care. Others are left with a single parent who might previously not have worked and taken care of them but now faces the urgent need of generating some income to make sure the household stays afloat.
What has happened in the area of legal immigration?
Since 2018 this country has granted over 1.1 million people legal permanent residency, most of whom were admitted on the basis of family reunification. Smaller numbers were granted to refugees, asylum seekers, employment-based preferences, and winners of the diversity lottery. That same year some 3.5 million applicants were still on the State Department’s waiting list to receive an immigration visa.
Do you need legal help to resolve your immigration issue?
The Florida Immigration Law Counsel offers you the legal help you require. Whether you have an immigration issue that affects you or your loved ones, there’s no need for you to put your status in this country on hold or risk deportation. Learn more about immigration law here and find out how to get a visa that will allow you and your family to remain in the United States.