Family Separation Is Systemic and Devastating
Psychology Today
by Rupinder K. Legha M.D.February 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Family separation, often justified as a measure of safety or security, has devastating consequences on children's mental health and well-being. The case of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was detained with his father by ICE in Minneapolis, highlights the immediate emotional and psychological toll such separations can have. Beyond individual cases, the broader impact of family separation extends to communities, as fear of deportation or removal disrupts healthcare utilization, school attendance, and overall health outcomes. Studies show that children separated from their families are at higher risk for long-term mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, depression, and even physical conditions such as heart disease and shortened life expectancy.
The systemic nature of family separation is a critical issue across various institutions, including child welfare, foster care, and juvenile justice systems. These systems often operate under the guise of protection but disproportionately target Black, Latine, and Indigenous communities. For example, countless children have been removed from their families due to poverty or systemic neglect, rather than actual abuse or danger. The child welfare system, as legal scholar Dorothy Roberts notes, has instilled a pervasive fear among marginalized communities, akin to the tactics used in immigrant detention. This fear is further compounded by the disproportionately high rates of Black and Brown children entering state custody, where they face coercive practices like psychiatric medication overuse and incarceration masqueraded as care.
The historical roots of family separation are deeply tied to the transatlantic slave trade, forced removal of Indigenous children to boarding schools, and other forms of systemic oppression. Modern-day child psychiatry has played a role in perpetuating these harmful practices through mandated reporting laws, psychiatric diagnoses that justify criminalization, and treatment in facilities that resemble incarceration rather than care. For instance, Los Angeles County settled a $4 billion lawsuit over sexual abuse within its juvenile justice system, underscoring the dangers of state-run detention. These systems not only separate families but also perpetuate cycles of trauma and inequality.
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Originally published on Psychology Today on 2/14/2026