Separating children from their parents or caregivers at the border could “create negative health impacts that will last an individual’s entire lifespan,” according to a resolution voicing the adopted opinion at the 2018 American Medical Association (AMA) Annual Meeting in Chicago. This statement was issued in response to the Department of Homeland Security’s new zero-tolerance policy on family separation associated with border crossings that are illegal or conducted by those seeking asylum.
“Children leaving the chaos of their home countries should not be further traumatized by the U.S. government policy of separating children from their caregiver,” – AMA Board Member Bobby Mukkamala, MD
The resolution believes that this policy will “dramatically exacerbate” the pre-existing stress families experience when trying to seek refuge in the U.S., and heavily bases its argument on the detrimental effects it has on the mental health of children.
The AMA House of Delegates determined that the new AMA policy is to oppose separation of migrating children from their caregivers if there is no threat to the child’s well-being, and to urge the federal government to rescind their new policy. Their goal is to shift focus from separating children from their families to promoting health and protection.
The American Psychological Association (APA) has voiced similar opposition to the policy, writing a letter to Trump pressing for reconsideration of the policy and for him to “commit to the more humane practice of housing families together pending immigration proceedings to protect them from further trauma.” The APA goes on to state that many families are suffering from a mental health crisis because of the policy.
Link to full letter here.
Referencing anxiety and depression as specific mental illnesses that can arise in children who are separated from their parents, the APA also uses the medical wellbeing of the youth as the center of their call for policy reform.
As psychologists, we have documented multiple harmful effects of parent-child separation on children’s emotional and psychological development and wellbeing and urge that the current policy of family separation be reversed.” #FamiliesBelongTogether
Read the full letter below: pic.twitter.com/7K90VkMub4— APA Public Interest Directorate (@APAPublicInt) June 15, 2018
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