The Impact of Deportation Related Family Separations on Latinx Families in Los Angeles

Background and Purpose: Due to a shift in U.S. immigration policy over the past two decades, there has been an increase in the deportations of unauthorized persons residing in the United States—the majority of whom migrated from Mexico and Central America. Subsequently, a disproportionate number of Latinx individuals have been subjected to forced family separations. One of the many unnoticed aspects of deportation is its impact on family members who are left behind.  While previous studies have examined how Latinx youth experience the deportation of a parent, this study not only examines how youth experience and cope with a forced family separation but rather how such an adverse event impacts the entire family unit. This study examines the following questions: 1) how do youth and their remaining family members adjust to new family circumstances following a parental deportation; 2) how do social service systems respond to the needs of families who experienced a deportation related family separation?

Methods:  Grounded in a theoretical framework that utilizes family systems theory, this phenomenological qualitative study employed in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Latinx youth (n=8) who had recently experienced a forced separation from a parent due to deportation, and their mothers (n=8). The data also consists of in-depth semi-structured interviews with key informants, including school personnel and service providers (n=12). Several recruitment methods were utilized including recruitment through key informants and flyers sent home with students. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded thematically using ATLAS.ti software and guided by an inductive approach to qualitative analysis.

Findings: The analysis revealed four main findings. Following the deportation of a parent: 1) Families had to adjust to new family circumstances due to economic loss and increased family tension; 2) Families retreated from social life, which drastically reduced their social networks and discouraged families from fully incorporating into their respective communities; 3) Families relied on informal support networks and faith-based agencies rather than government social services due to fear of further family separation and; 4) Youth accessed school and peer support, while mothers coped by reaching out to extended family, accessing aid through informal support networks, and relying on their faith as a protective tool.

Conclusion and Implications: This study highlights the experiences that Latinx families undergo following a deportation related family separation and highlights the role that service providers play in assisting these families both cope and adjust to new family circumstances. By understanding the psychosocial needs of these families, social service providers can better help them regain their stability. Service providers and school personnel can better serve these families by receiving culturally-based trauma informed training that will enable them to provide services tailored to these families’ needs. Community based agencies must work towards enhancing their relationships with immigrant-based centers and faith-based agencies so that they can serve more families and assist them restore their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.