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Policy & Action

Immigration

of children in the US have at least one immigrant parent
0 %
of children in immigrant families were born in the U.S.
0 %
children in the US with at least one immigrant parent
0 M

Supporting Immigrant Families

With limited access to benefit programs, language access challenges, and racial and ethnic discrimination, immigrants face even larger obstacles to provide for their families which impacts the health and well-being of their children.

Our Research Findings

Our Research Findings

  • Housing instability among families with young children is estimated to cost $111 billion in avoidable costs in health care and special education over 10 years.
  • Families with a history of evictions are 5 times more likely to experience homelessness, 3 to 4 times more likely to experience other forms of housing instability, and more likely to have children in fair or poor health.
  • 1 in 6 children in the United States experienced unstable housing.
  • Infants from food-insecure families (vulnerable, low-income families with complex needs) who were eligible for rental assistance but did not receive it were more likely to be hospitalized than infants from similar families who did receive rental assistance.
    Children who experienced cost-driven moves in the past year were more likely to have lost WIC, SNAP, and Medicaid benefits than children who stayed in place.

Our Research Findings

  • Housing instability among families with young children is estimated to cost $111 billion in avoidable costs in health care and special education over 10 years.
  • Families with a history of evictions are 5 times more likely to experience homelessness, 3 to 4 times more likely to experience other forms of housing instability, and more likely to have children in fair or poor health.
  • 1 in 6 children in the United States experienced unstable housing.
  • Infants from food-insecure families (vulnerable, low-income families with complex needs) who were eligible for rental assistance but did not receive it were more likely to be hospitalized than infants from similar families who did receive rental assistance.
    Children who experienced cost-driven moves in the past year were more likely to have lost WIC, SNAP, and Medicaid benefits than children who stayed in place.

Our Research Findings

  • Housing instability among families with young children is estimated to cost $111 billion in avoidable costs in health care and special education over 10 years.
  • Families with a history of evictions are 5 times more likely to experience homelessness, 3 to 4 times more likely to experience other forms of housing instability, and more likely to have children in fair or poor health.
  • 1 in 6 children in the United States experienced unstable housing.
  • Infants from food-insecure families (vulnerable, low-income families with complex needs) who were eligible for rental assistance but did not receive it were more likely to be hospitalized than infants from similar families who did receive rental assistance.
    Children who experienced cost-driven moves in the past year were more likely to have lost WIC, SNAP, and Medicaid benefits than children who stayed in place.

Policy Priorities

Immigrant families are integral to our society. However, with limited access to benefit programs, language access challenges, and racial and ethnic discrimination, immigrants face even larger obstacles to provide for their families which impacts the health and well-being of their children. It is more important than ever to support immigrant and mixed-status families as they are continually targeted by Congress and the Administration.

More than one in four children living in the United States have at least one immigrant parent. Anti-immigrant rhetoric and exclusionary policies create significant barriers and a chilling effect for immigrant and mixed-status families to access resources when needed, even when eligible. When families do not have access to the resources they need the health and wellness of their children suffer. Policies that support families are needed to ensure all children, no matter where they or a family member were born, can grow and thrive.

Policy Goals

  • Remove the 5-year waiting period bar that excludes many lawfully present immigrants from accessing health-boosting public benefits, including health care, housing, cash, and nutrition assistance. 
  • Protect immigrant communities from unlawful immigration enforcement.
  • Bar federal agencies, like USDA, IRS, and CMS, from sharing sensitive and identifying information with DHS and ICE.
  • Pass legislation at the state and federal level to protect immigrant communities and sensitive locations. 

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Research & Policy Briefs

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Action

Share your thoughts and any of our resources with your members of Congress.  Simply call or email them to encourage them to vote for policies that support immigrant families for the health and well-being of young kids. 

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