A three-year-old’s broken world after his father’s immigration detention

This heart-wrenching story chronicles the devastating impact of a father's detention on his three-year-old son, Carlos Carino. In September, ICE agents took Miguel Carino, Carlos's father, into custody in Los Angeles and placed him in a detention center in California's Central Valley. The separation immediately affected Carlos, who began exhibiting signs of trauma such as refusing to participate in school activities, crying frequently, and addressing everyone as "Papi," a term of endearment for parents in Latin American cultures.

The family, residing in mixed-status circumstances, fought tirelessly in court to secure Miguel's release. They reasoned that given the prevalence of such families in California - nearly 5 million households - Carlos's father's detention should not be a cause for despair. However, the reality was harsher. Miguel, who had been living in Los Angeles for nearly 25 years and owned a small construction business, was detained during what he believed to be a routine check-in with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), despite his wife, Jazmin, being a U.S. citizen.

Jazmin, 24, tried to maintain familial connections by making long drives to the Central Valley twice a month, but these visits only exacerbated Carlos's distress. One day, upon entering preschool, Carlos wore a hand-knit beanie his father had made for him, signaling a sense of security. However, in March, Miguel decided to self-deport to Mexico to seek work and avoid deportation.

Jazmin visited him in Tijuana, but by April, Miguel had moved further south to Mexico City, making it impossible for the family to see him in person for three months.

The family now struggles to maintain contact, relying on video and phone calls as Carlos's confidence and ease has once again diminished. The emotional toll of parental separation is profound, as it disrupts a child's sense of security and can lead to long-term psychological issues. Studies show that exposure to harsh immigration enforcement and parental absence can result in "toxic stress," increasing risks of physical and mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, PTSD, and depression.

Research has shown that such exposure can lead to increased absenteeism in school, disciplinary actions, and even substance use disorders or suicidal ideation in children. As psychiatrist Tatiana Londoño states, "Even a small separation from parents, no matter how short, can have a rupture on that child's developmental well-being." The impact of these separations can be generational, shaping the future relationships and mental health of affected children.