The National Children’s Campaign is a nonpartisan organization that advocates for policies that improve our immigration system, especially with regard to how children are treated. Nearly one-quarter of all children in America come from immigrant families. It is critical to the prosperity of our nation that the well-being and health of these children are treated with the utmost importance.1 Immigrant children are more likely to live in low-income families, experience food insecurity and lack health care insurance, especially for those who have at least one parent that is undocumented. Additionally, programs and policies that often safeguard vulnerable children, unfortunately, tend to create obstacles for immigrant children.2 Issues of cultural competency, immigration status and immigration enforcement measures threaten to undermine the safety and well-being of immigrant children.
1. Migration Policy Institute https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/profile-us-children-unauthorized-immigrant-parents
2. Annie E. Casey Foundation, Kids Count Data Center https://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/115-children-in-immigrant-families#detailed/1/any/false/871,870,573,869,36,868,867,133,38,35/any/445,446