Raising Children Amid the Threat of Deportation: Perspectives from Undocumented Latina Mothers

ABSTRACT

Despite the large number of families with at least one undocumented parent, little research has investigated mothering amid the threat of immigration enforcement. We present results of a community-based participatory study with 7 Latina mothers who describe their experiences of parenting while navigating the possibility of deportation. Undocumented mothers found meaning in caring for their children. Yet due to restrictions related to immigration status, mothers were unable to support their children as they intended and feared their deportations would leave children without care, contributing to psychological duress. We provide recommendations for practitioners working with mixed-status families.

Keywords:

• Immigration
• deportation
• undocumented

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the brave women, men, and families who shared their life stories with us. In addition, we thank the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights for their guidance and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable communities.

Disclosure statement

We have disclosures to make, financial or otherwise.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Michigan School of Social Work Curtis Research and Training Center and the Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health (CRECH) at the University of Michigan School of Public Health [5R25GM058641-14].