The profound trauma of family separation is proven to result in significant harm that can last a lifetime.
Children who are forcibly separated from their families experience emotional and psychological harm stemming from disruption of attachments, trauma from the very act of removal, and grief and loss. In the short term, children can experience intense anxiety, depression, and disruptive behaviors. Long-term consequences of involuntary family separation can include poor developmental health and adult involvement with the criminal legal system.
Black parents experience an additional layer of trauma from the policing they are subjected to by an inherently racist system. The racism that Black families and children experience inflicts deep trauma and can impact long-term psychological and physical health.