“The survey released yesterday by the Washington State Head Start Association and partners confirms what MomsRising has been hearing from members across the country since the Trump administration took office: Out-of-control immigration enforcement is taking a terrible toll on a generation of children, and on the child care programs families rely on. It is truly disturbing that nearly half of survey respondents (47%) have observed negative behavioral changes in children, matching clinical symptoms of stress, anxiety and trauma; and that 78% of program staff report that ICE enforcement has had a noticeable impact on student attendance.

“America’s moms have been horrified for months as ICE and CBP have terrified communities, torn families apart, employed racial profiling, and in other ways violated the human rights and constitutional protections of families in our communities. The administration’s refusal to keep immigration enforcement away from child care programs, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and other sensitive locations is especially callous and is causing massive – and we fear long-lasting – trauma to young children.

“It is simply unforgivable that Republicans in Congress took money from health care, food and nutrition, and education to fund these cruel, lawless actions – and is poised to do so again with the reconciliation bill. Children’s mental and physical health, safety, and education should be our paramount concern. America’s moms want lawmakers to address the affordability and care crises that are shattering families, and to ensure that our nation adopts a safe and orderly immigration process that balances compassion and security, without traumatizing children, without cutting health care – and certainly without cruelty.”