Deportations and Children

“I am eighteen and just graduated from high school. I am scared that my mother (undocumented) will be arrested and I will have to care for my younger brother (seven) who has trouble speaking and taking care of himself for the rest of my life.” -S.T., Michigan

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Currently, there are an estimated 5.62 million U.S. citizen children with an undocumented household member and a large majority (85%) of these citizen children are younger than 15. In addition, 2.66 million citizen children live in a home where the only in-household parent(s) is/are undocumented.

Families are encouraged to write directives that spell out their wishes in the event they are separated from their children, and non-profit organizations such as the Immigrant Legal Resource Center offer assistance and guidance.

For additional information, please visit: “What Will Deportations Mean for the Child Welfare System?” (Brookings Institute, April 22, 2025)