WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
From a Case to a Cause Protec'ng Ci'zen-­‐Children through Prac'ce, Research, and Advocacy
Luis H. Zayas, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Social Work
WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
I.  Background on one case II.  Pathways to a cause III.  Research program and methods IV.  Cases and the quest WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
The first case* 2005 Virginia (6 years, 3 months); father facing removal Father’s trial date: September 2006 Basic psychological evalua'on 
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School records Pediatric records Parent interview Clinical measures Clinical interview *All names disguised to protect privacy WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Psychological evalua:on …[pre-­‐school] verbal produc'on…low rela've to other…[no speech disorder]…did not speak in school for over 15 months. …occasionally stays in corner of the classroom and curls into a fetal posi'on. …[kindergarten] spoken only a few 'mes aVer five months. WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Psychological evalua:on, cont’d. …meets criteria for selec've mu'sm” …move to Mexico…would cause… substan'al psychological effects. WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
“What do we know?”   11.9 million unauthorized immigrants   4 million children in mixed-­‐status homes   73% are U.S. ci'zen-­‐children 2009 Passel & Cohn, 2008, WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Demographers’ ra:os 2:1
Capps et al., 2007 WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Applying the ra:o Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Removals 280,974 319,382 359,795 395,165 387,242 2010 Immigra'on Sta's'cs Yearbook (Department of Homeland Security, 2011) Es:mated 2:1 ~140,487 ~159,691 ~179,897 ~197,582 ~193,621 WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
ICE raids of 2006 and 2007  900 adults arrested; 500 children (many <5) leV with rela'ves or others Capps et al., 2007  Children held for up to 2 weeks,   not well protected, risked safety  Non-­‐ci'zen children maltreated by ICE staff  Children must no'fy child protec've services  Children denied access to lawyer or consulates   violates interna'onal conven'ons   Procedures not best child welfare standards Center for Public Policy Priori'es (2008) WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Missing: Empirical data   No studies of psychosocial effects   Anecdotal (depressed, anxious, trauma'zed)   Nothing about effects on mixed-­‐status sibling rela'onships   Ci'zen-­‐child and non-­‐ci'zen siblings   Implica'ons for mental health outcomes   Ajachment and bonding   Ambiguous loss   Behavioral disorders WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Outrage leads to plan 2010, Vol. 21, No. 3
August 2010,
pp. 809-814
WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Pathways of a cause Immigra'on Court Advocacy Literature 5 5 1 1 6 7 6 7 3 3 2 2 Prac'ce Immigra'on reform 8 8 4 4 Teaching Publica'ons Research WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Cases that followed: 2 with ADHD 2009 Teodoro (8 years, 6 months) Mother’s trial date: July 2009 Result: Cancella'on of removal 2010 Lucho (10 years, 5 months) Maria (6 years, 3 months) Father’s trial date: January 2011 Result: Cancella'on of removal WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Learning from court tes:mony   Immigra'on judges are generally fair   “Learned trea'ses” introduced as evidence influence judges   Objec've measures strengthen clinical observa'ons: provide respectable level of clinical and research veracity   Tes'fying in court   Government ajorney will try to impugn expert   Use declara've statements; stay on point   Avoid legalese (“unusual and extreme hardship”) WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
One helpful learned trea:se WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
More cases: trauma & depression 2011  Flora (9 years, 1 month) Anita (5 years, 5 months) Mother’s trial date: April, 2011 Result: Cancella'on of removal Father’s trial date: 3/2012 WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Exploring the Effects of Parental Deporta:on on U.S. Ci:zen Children NICHD R21 (Mixed method) Par:cipants N = 80 (50% females) U.S. ci'zen-­‐children of undocumented Mexican immigrant parents from 10-­‐12 yrs (inclusive) in MO; IL; CA; TX, and Mexico Sample: Four groups of 20 children each Group A: accompanied parents to MX Group B: remained in U.S. with one parent Group C: remained in U.S. in care of family or friends Group D: not under removal proceedings (comparison) WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Research Methodology Longitudinal design 3 mos post deporta'on and 6 mos aVer first interview Quan:ta:ve Demographics (provided by parents or guardians) Measures of mental health and func'oning Qualita:ve Detailed interviews of percep'ons, thoughts, and emo'ons Analyses Basic analyses both quan'ta've and qualita've Create profile of each child and each group Mental health panel to provide diagnos'c impressions Publish in clinical journals WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
New cases   More referrals arriving   Not all children with cogni've or emo'onal difficul'es WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Miguel, 14, a well adolescent …shared custody of Miguel for about three years (when Miguel was 7). At that 'me, the father took full custody. …wants to go to college…goes fishing with his father on weekends and…watches father play soccer. This is a remarkably well-­‐adjusted young man…bright, engaging, respecwul…admira'on for his father….Miguel is alone in this world with his father. WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Recent Cases 2012 (father’s case) Amalia (9 years, 2 months) Liliana (4 years, 4 months) (Honduras) Father’s trial date: March Result: awai'ng judge’s decision 2012 Paola (8 years, 6 months) (major surgeries) Trial date: March Result: Cancella'on of removal WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Arguments for Immigra:on Reform  Parental deporta'on creates two classes of children   Exiles   Orphans  Policy Recommenda'ons   Temporary stays (“Biological foster parents”)   Deporta<on with support   Humane prosecutorial and judicial discre<on   Redefining “extreme and unusual hardship” WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Paper in progress   Methods for evalua'ng ci'zen-­‐children in removal cases   Principles   Prac<ce WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Beyond R21 and Mexico   Larger R01-­‐size samples   More refined design and measures   Extend to undocumented immigrants from   Caribbean & Central America   Africa   Asia WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Con:nuing the cause   Working with na'onal & local advocates   Evalua'ng children (Missouri and Texas)   Tes'fying in court & legislature   Training mental health providers to evaluate and tes'fy   Book WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
Acknowledgements   Gustavo Arango, Esq.   Ken Schmij, Esq.   Mollie Bradlee, BA   U.S. Legal Solu'ons   Suzanne Brown, Esq.   Wes Schooler, Esq.   Law Offices of Suzanne Brown   Rachel Groneck, Esq.   Bernhart and Wichmer, P.C.   M. Andrea Campetella, PhD   Gabriela Camberos   Center for La'no Family Research   Sergio Aguilar-­‐Gaxiola, MD   University of California, Davis   Maria E. Medina-­‐Mora, PhD   Ins'tuto Nacional de Psiquiatria de Mexico   Randy Capps, PhD   Migra'on Policy Ins'tute   Ajay Chaudry, PhD   ASPE/DHHS   Mary Giovagnoli, Esq.   American Immigra'on Council