The Silent Victims: Understanding the Psychological Impact of Deportation on Children
In this evidence-based synthesis paper, I reviewed findings from 16 empirical studies published between 2016 and 2025, all of which aimed to study the effects of parental deportation on their U.S. citizen children. More specifically, I focused on the prevalence of prolonged feelings of insecurity and fear in this child population that may persist into an exacerbated manner or in the form of a mental disorder. As a supplementary research tool, I utilized the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) to draw comparisons between the unique experiences of participants of these studies and diagnostic criteria for mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and a major depressive episode (MDE). The legality of parental deportation has been studied for decades, with the primary concern being the subsequent effects on their children’s physical and emotional well-being. More recently, the political and societal relevance of parental deportation within the U.S. and its growing complexity have driven researchers to study its effects more intensely. The difficulty in researching this topic has increased as the number of mixed-status households has risen over time. In 2022, the Pew Research Center reported that approximately 4.4 million U.S. born children under 18 lived with an unauthorized immigrant parent. Within each study, there was not enough evidence to suggest psychopathology as the result of parental deportation, which may be attributed to the lack of awareness or terminology for children to describe their experiences. However, most researchers discovered profound, negative effects of parental deportation on children. The self-report measures used in most studies served as a limitation because of their susceptibility to various forms of bias. Future research directions should aim to identify pre-existing community support systems and determine their effectiveness while simultaneously increasing the implementation of accessible mental health systems for children who have experienced parental deportation.
PSY 499, Senior Capstone
Erin Mueller
Siefke 100
2:30 – 3 PM