The Perilous Intersection of
Immigration Enforcement and the Child Welfare System
Download PDFs:
Brief overview of ARC's groundbreaking report in an easy to read format with key findings and policy recommendations.
Read ARC's unprecedented analysis of
the problem, its underlying causes, local differences, and
recommended solutions. Illustrated with vivid graphics, compelling stories, and extensive interviews with detained and deported parents, child welfare workers, attorneys and foreign consulates.
Inicie aquí para obtener el Resumen Ejecutivo de "Familias Destrozadas" en Español. Esto incluye los resultados claves, las recomendaciones de políticas publicas y un breve informe del reporte innovador de ARC.
One family's story, a national problem.
Rinku Sen appears on Rachel Maddow show to discuss "Shattered Families" with guest host Melissa Harris Perry.
Key Findings: There are at least 5,100 children currently living in foster care who are prevented from uniting with their detained or deported parents.
If nothing changes, 15,000 more children may face a similar fate in the next 5 years.
This is a growing national problem, not one confined to border jurisdictions or states-- ARC identified at least 22 states where these cases have emerged.
Families are more likely to be separated where local police aggressively participate in immigration enforcement.
Immigrant victims of domestic violence are at particular risk of losing their children
ICE detention obstructs participation in Child Protective Services' plans for family unity.
Most child welfare departments lack systemic policies to keep families united when parents are detained or deported.
Federal, state and local governments must create explicit policies to protect families from separation.
These polices should stop the clock on the child welfare process and the immigration enforcement process to ensure that families can stay together and allow parents to make the best decisions for the care and custody of their children.
PRESS RELEASE on the significance of ARC's findings - in English / en Español
Quote from ARC President Rinku Sen: “Immigration enforcement greatly increases the chances that families
will never see each other again. Detaining and deporting parents shatter families and endanger the
children left behind. It’s unacceptable, un-American, and a clear sign
that we need to revisit our immigration policies.”
Media inquiries, contact ARC Communications Manager at media@arc.org or 646-490-2772.
INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR - Available here. In this webinar, ARC reviews the findings in “Shattered Families” and present policy and practice recommendations for Department of Homeland Security, various levels of legislature, state child welfare departments, immigration and juvenile dependency attorneys and courts on how we can better protect families from separation and reunify families in a timely way. Includes presentations from Kara Finck, Attorney, Bronx Defenders, and Loreta Ruiz, Vice Consul for Protection, Consulate of Mexico – Santa Ana, CA.
ARC's "Shattered Families" Investigative Package includes a poignant video (above) and Colorlines.com multi-part series that digs deeply into the perilous intersection of immigration enforcement and child welfare system.
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RINKU SEN