Detached and Afraid: U.S. Immigration Policy and the Practice of Forcibly Separating Parents and Young Children at the Border

A growing number of families immigrating to the United States from Central America are being separated at the border, including parents of children who are under age 6. We explore what happens to these children once they are separated from their families by examining the nature of the services and programs provided while they are in transitional foster care. We then draw preliminary conclusions about the emerging impact of family separation on outcomes for these children.