Half of CA children have immigrant parents
Sweeping changes to federal immigration policy could have a disproportionate effect on California, where 50 percent of children have at least one immigrant parent, compared to 25 percent nationwide, according to the latest data available on Kidsdata. That translates to 4.5 million children in California alone. In congressional districts 17, 34 and 46, which represent parts of greater Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, more than 75 percent of children have at least one immigrant parent.
In 2013, California passed immigration legislation to address disparities between immigrant and non-immigrant families. California also offers some benefits to undocumented immigrant children that would not be available under federal law, including Medi-Cal, post-secondary financial aid, and domestic worker protections for their parents. Additionally, the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, introduced in 2012, was viewed as important temporary relief from deportation, expanding the socioeconomic mobility and trajectories for eligible youth. Under the new administration, the future of the DACA program is uncertain.
For mixed-immigration-status families, family separation poses serious risks for children, including emotional trauma, housing insecurity and food insecurity. Immigration policies must not lose sight of the well being of children and their families.
Related Data
Immigrants (Summary)
Children Living in Linguistically Isolated Households
Children Living with One or More Foreign-Born Parent
Foreign-Born Population, by Age Group
Race or National Origin as Reason for Bullying/Harassment
Public School Enrollment, by Race/Ethnicity
English Learners in Public Schools
Helpful Links
Immigrant-Inclusive State and Local Policies Move Ahead in 2014-15 (PDF), National Immigration Law Center
The Educational, Psychological, and Social Impact of Discrimination on the Immigrant Child, Migration Policy Institute
Asian Pacific Islander (API) Population Report: In Our Own Words, California Dept. of Public Health, Office Of Health Equity
Urban Institute: Immigrants and Immigration
Migration Policy Institute: Data Hub
Kidsdata Tip
Join Kidsdata on February 24th in Mountain View at the 10th Annual Santa Clara County Children’s Summit.
Posted by kidsdata.org
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