Research by Kathleen Roche, a professor of prevention and community health, at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, suggests that such anti-immigration rhetoric on the campaign trail can lead to detrimental effects on Latino families, and especially children and teens.
Roche has done studies showing that Latino adolescents with a family member who has been detained or deported are at high risk for mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts, early alcohol use and risky behavior. Most of the teens in the study were US citizens and Roche says these problems can lead to difficulty in school and a downward trajectory that can be hard to overcome in adulthood.
To interview Kathleen Roche or learn more about the GW research on immigration and health, please contact Kathy Fackelmann, kfackelmann
gwu [dot] edu (kfackelmann[at]gwu[dot]edu)
-GW-