On June 11, Florida child welfare personnel assisted ICE in forcibly removing a child living in foster care from his home. We strongly oppose this profound cruelty and any actions taken that cause harm to children.
At Families Rising, we believe all children have a fundamental right to safety and stability, and the well-being of children must always take precedence over punitive enforcement. When enforcement actions directly contradict our mission to ensure every child has a loving, permanent family, we cannot remain silent. Recent cases demonstrate the urgent need for practices that put children’s welfare first.
The crisis facing children
4.4 million U.S. citizen children live with at least one undocumented parent, according to research from the U.S. Census Bureau. This is not just a statistic—it represents real families navigating fear and uncertainty.
And the consequences of this are profound. Studies consistently show that family separation causes severe, lasting trauma that affects not only individual children but entire communities. Stable family relationships are essential for healthy child development, emotional security, and long-term well-being.
Thus, the current immigration enforcement climate creates unprecedented challenges for vulnerable children and families and demands proactive action from all of us.
We call upon federal and state officials to:
- Recognize that children’s safety and stability are paramount and that, in communities with immigrant children and families, fear of immigration enforcement may discourage the reporting of child abuse and neglect. Thus, ICE involvement directly undermines the well-being of children.
- Proactively partner with parents who may be impacted by deportations. Encourage parents to plan ahead, such as by designating standby guardians, and respect parental placement preferences should deportation occur.
- Implement policies and practices rooted in dignity and shared humanity for children and families, and acknowledge that protecting all children within our borders serves our collective future.
Resources for children and families
Everyone, regardless of immigration status, is entitled to certain rights in the United States. Understanding these rights is crucial for immigrants and their advocates, especially during interactions with immigration officials or in the event of enforcement actions. Here are some resources that may be helpful:
-
Comprehensive resource list for child welfare – CWLA and KIND Resources for Child Welfare (May 2025)
This PDF compiles a wide range of resources, including:
- Finding immigration legal help: National directories and legal aid organizations for immigrants seeking legal representation.
- Know Your Rights materials for youth: Flyers and multilingual resources to educate young people about their rights.
- Family preparedness resources: Step-by-step guides and toolkits to help families plan for emergencies, including detention or deportation.
- Practice guidance for unaccompanied children: Updates and alerts on enforcement actions, registration requirements, and policy changes affecting unaccompanied minors.
-
Immigration raid and rapid response resources – CLASP Immigration Raid Resources
This collection is designed to help families, providers, and communities prepare for and respond to immigration enforcement actions:
- Know Your Rights and rapid response: Fact sheets and toolkits from organizations like ACLU, AILA, and ILRC, including Know Your Rights cards, rapid response hotlines, and guidance for schools and advocates.
- Family emergency preparation and parental rights: Guides for parents to protect their rights, make child care arrangements, and safeguard family assets in the event of detention or deportation.
- Mental health support: Resources for caregivers and practitioners to address trauma and connect families to mental health clinicians.
- Provider preparation and response: Guidance for educators, child welfare agencies, and healthcare providers to create safe spaces and respond effectively to enforcement actions.
Our commitment
Families Rising will continue advocating for policies and practices that support children’s healthy development and keep families united. Our nation’s commitment to child welfare must extend to every child, without exception. We invite all partners and community members to join us in this critical work. We must protect our most vulnerable children and strengthen our communities through family unity.