It Starts With the Truth

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4.4 million U.S.-citizen children under the age of 18 lived with at least one undocumented parent as of 2018.

About 11 million undocumented immigrants lived in the United States as of 2022—3.3 percent of the country's overall population. 

In 2023, 86% of children in immigrant families were U.S.-born, highlighting the significant presence of native-born children within immigrant households. 

Children of unauthorized immigrants accounted for about 7.3% of K-12 students in U.S. public and private schools in 2014, with 81% of these children being U.S.-born citizens.  

Separation from parents can lead to profound psychological distress in children, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research indicates that such separations disrupt normal child development and have long-term negative consequences for psychological and physical health. 

Studies have documented that children who experience family separation are at a higher risk for long-term mental health issues, including depression and anxiety disorders, which can persist into adulthood. These effects are compounded when the separation occurs during critical developmental periods.