CHILDREN AT RISK and top child advocates will discuss the growing crisis harming children and the urgent need for reform.

Much has changed in the past 45 days when it comes to immigration law. Those changes reverberate across our schools and communities and are also taking a deep toll on our children across Texas. In a state where nearly half of Texas’ 7 million children live with at least one immigrant parent, how couldn’t more of our children be experiencing higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression and fear. They fear they’ll have a negative encounter with law enforcement, be it at their schools, their school bus stop or while walking with their parents to get a haircut. They also fear the worst, that their family may be ripped apart from them, changing the trajectory of their lives instantaneously. To make matters worse, the public is becoming more aware of incidents of bullying related to immigration stigma across our classrooms, putting Hispanic children at the center of attacks.

Here at the Children’s Immigration Network, we took a moment this week with our key partners across the state to discuss these concerning trends. Experts discussed how bullying can have a pervasive impact on the development of children and their well-being. They also highlighted how prevention techniques in school are effective, from peer learning in group discussions to information outreach with parents – schools can be a powerful catalyst for change.

Finally, our ultimate call to action is much more personal, what happens in our homes, how we think and what we say about vulnerable families in our communities has a deep impact on children. Children model our behavior. But we also have the power to stop it and change the course. We may feel defeated by a sense of hatred in our communities, creating an environment of hopelessness or we can resist animosity and instead model strength and healing for our children. Ultimately, what we do in our homes, how we think and our own prejudices impact how children shape their own opinions and mentality about themselves. While schools must remain accountable, we must also do the same.

Low-cost counseling for children:

• Houston-specific
• Statewide portal
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Nacional de Prevencion del Suicidio

Key Data Highlights:  

• Latino youth make one-third to one-half as many outpatient mental health visits compared with peers from other racial or ethnic groups. 

• Compared to White and Black youth, Latino youth experience higher rates of depression, suicide attempts, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, disruptive behavior disorders, and, among young women, eating disorders i 

• In 2023, 13 million children of immigrants aged 6 to 17 lived in the United States—84% of whom were born in the U.S. 

•  Nearly half of Texas’ 7 million children, about 3 million, live with at least one immigrant parent.