A generation of children in the United States has been profoundly affected by the immigration policies of the Trump administration, which led to the separation of many immigrant families. Reports indicate that as of April, an estimated 205,000 children had at least one parent detained by immigration authorities, with the actual number likely higher. These separations have had psychological effects on children, including emotional distress, increased bullying in schools, and anxiety about being targeted by immigration enforcement agencies like ICE. Many of these children are U.S. citizens, with about one in four U.S.-born children having at least one parent who is an immigrant. Since the start of his second term, the Trump administration has focused heavily on cracking down on immigration, including targeting children of immigrants. On Inauguration Day, he issued an executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born to parents without legal status or those on temporary visas. This policy was ultimately blocked by the Supreme Court. Additionally, the administration invested billions into immigration enforcement, leading to the detention of the parents of an estimated 145,000 U.S. citizen children by April, according to The Marshall Project. The administration also sought to rescind temporary protected status for over a million immigrants, many of whom have U.S. citizen children, and delayed renewals for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which includes the parents of about 300,000 citizen children. While White House officials argued that these policies benefit American citizens by freeing up resources like jobs and housing, reducing pressure on public funds, and expelling criminals, studies have shown that mass deportations can negatively affect U.S. workers. Stephen Miller, a key architect of Trump’s immigration policies, has claimed that children of immigrants drain public resources and perpetuate problems from their parents' home countries. However, research shows that immigrants tend to earn more, assimilate quickly, and rely less on welfare than native-born Americans. The administration’s policies have also impacted access to essential services for children. A Republican tax-and-spending law enacted in 2023 limited immigrant eligibility for health and food assistance programs. In July 2023, the administration introduced new "public charge" rules that could lead to over a million U.S. citizen children losing access to safety net healthcare programs. Separation from parents can lead to lifelong health issues, including anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and learning difficulties. Children separated from parents at the border during the first Trump administration were found to suffer from lasting trauma, and researchers have linked deportations and detentions to emotional trauma, higher school dropout rates, and housing instability for both immigrant and U.S.-born children. A 2024 study by federal researchers estimated that health conditions related to childhood trauma accounted for $292 billion in healthcare spending in 2021, including from taxpayer-funded programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Some children have taken on adult responsibilities, such as grocery shopping and caring for younger siblings. Community organizations, health providers, and others have stepped in to support affected families, offering groceries, free therapy, school assistance, and emergency childcare planning. Researchers at Arizona State University highlight a program called the Family Case Management Program as a potential model for keeping families together while enforcing immigration laws. Launched in 2016 under President Barack Obama, the program was terminated by the first Trump administration.