March 4, 2026
(New York, NY)—Today, Children’s Rights released Promoting the Rights of Immigrant Children through State and Local Action, a policy brief that details how recent federal policies are harming immigrant children, and makes recommendations for steps state and local leaders can take to mitigate that harm and uphold legal protections.
“From the eyewitness accounts of Children’s Rights lawyers onsite at detention facilities to media reports, the evidence is undeniable. Children are being taken from everything they know, detained in appalling conditions, and facing untenable fear and uncertainties,” said Shana Ratcliff, senior policy analyst at Children’s Rights. “Our leaders have the power and responsibility to adopt solutions that will uphold children’s rights and dignity.”
The policy brief points to a cascade of federal policy changes that are harming children. The government has significantly increased funding to apprehend and detain immigrants, is limiting their access to legal counsel, challenging humane protections that have been in place for decades, reducing access to health and nutrition assistance, and imposing explicit barriers to families.
Heightened surveillance, detention, and deportation expose children to toxic stress, disrupt healthy development, and contribute to lasting mental, physical, and educational harm. In addition, recent government actions are forcing immigrant children into detention or state foster systems, outcomes that may escalate unless action is taken.
Promoting the Rights of Immigrant Children through State and Local Action lays out targeted steps that state and local leaders can take to protect children and families, including:
- Protecting children’s access to essential services and supports, including inclusive access to health coverage and designating child- and family-serving institutions—such as schools, hospitals, and social service agencies—as enforcement-free zones
- Proactively preserving and upholding legal protections for children and families, such as providing know-your-rights trainings and access to legal counsel
- Supporting families to remain safely together, including promoting family autonomy by legally recognizing family preparedness plans and ensuring children remain with trusted caregivers during a crisis
- Ensuring transparency and public oversight of immigrant enforcement actions
- Strengthening community-based supports, such as community service navigators, peer support groups, and family resource centers
To read the brief, click here.
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Children’s Rights is a national advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of children living in or impacted by America’s child welfare, juvenile legal, immigration, education, and healthcare systems. We use civil rights impact litigation, advocacy and policy expertise, and public education to hold governments accountable for keeping kids safe and healthy. Our work centers on creating lasting systemic change that will advance the rights of children for generations. For more information, please visit childrensrights.org.