Immigration-related fear is harming the health, safety, and stability of young children and their families across Massachusetts. Our research shows that fear of deportation and enforcement causes families to avoid health care, nutrition assistance, child care, work, and even filing taxes, creating a “chilling effect” that worsens children’s physical, mental, and developmental health. These harms are already increasing and threaten access to critical supports like refundable tax credits that reduce poverty and improve child well-being.
In oral and written testimony, Children’s HealthWatch strongly supports An Act to protect the civil rights and safety of all Massachusetts residents (S.1681/H.2580), also known as the Safe Communities Act, as an evidence-based way to rebuild trust, protect civil rights, and ensure families can safely access essential services that help children grow and thrive.