V. Immediate Impact on Children
W
hile worksite enforcement operations are aimed primarily at deterring employment of undocumented adults, they inevitably and negatively affect numerous children, as shown in the demographic analysis earlier in this
report. The impact of these operations on children can best be understood by exploring the range of environmental factors that influence children’s well-being. Children develop within the context of the immediate nexus of parents and other family members, as well as the broader community and the various social systems they encounter, including child care settings, schools, community and social networks, and public and private social service programs. How their family, community, and public networks support or fail to support children shapes their course of development.22 Many aspects of the public and private systems that are supposed to protect children are thrown into chaos during and immediately following worksite operations, creating inevitable disruptions for children. The most important factor for children’s safety and well-being is how the raids are conducted, including whether decisions are made that are sensitive to parents’ responsibilities and children’s needs. The roles of extended family and larger social networks; local leaders; community-based organizations; and public institutions such as schools, social service agencies, and health departments are also important in the immediate aftermath of worksite raids. The roles of each of these institutions in protecting children are the subject of the “Community Responses and Services to Children” section and Appendix 3 of this report.
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