Migrant Children Separated from Parents in the US Suffer from PTSD

Published in Excelsior
(Mexico) on 5 September 2019
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Madeleine Ramsey. Edited by Elizabeth Cosgriff.
The government reveals the mental and emotional damage suffered by hundreds of minors

Migrant children who were separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border last year demonstrate symptoms of post-traumatic stress, which become worse during the family reunification process, according to a report from a U.S. government oversight body.

The children exhibited more symptoms of fear, abandonment and post-traumatic stress than children who were not separated from their parents, explained the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Some cried uncontrollably; others believed that their parents had abandoned them and were angry and confused. Others reported feelings of fear or guilt.

The report is the first official document from a government department on the impact of Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance”policy, which has resulted in the separation of numerous families, upon the mental health of minors. The report is based on interviews with hundreds of mental health professionals who have treated separated children.

A second report from the same organization, also released yesterday, indicated that thousands of government employees had direct access to migrant children before the completion of their background checks and collection of fingerprints.

The report covers a period last year where facilities housing migrants were overflowing. Around 2,500 children were separated from their parents.

The children were kept at the border in custody while their parents were taken to federal courts to be prosecuted.

The children who spent more than 72 hours in custody were transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services, which placed them in shelters. They remained there until they were collected by sponsors, usually parents or close relatives.


Niños migrantes separados en EU, sufren trastornos

El gobierno reveló daño síquico y emocional en cientos de menores

Niños migrantes que fueron separados de sus padres en la frontera México-EU el año pasado mostraban síntomas de estrés postraumático, los que se agravaron durante el proceso de reunificación familiar, según un informe de un organismo supervisor del gobierno estadunidense.

Los menores exhibían más síntomas de miedo, sensación de abandono y estrés postraumático que los chicos que no fueron separados de sus padres, indicó el inspector general del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos.

Algunos lloraban inconsolablemente, otros creían que sus padres los habían abandonado y estaban enojados y confundidos. Otros sentían miedo o culpa, detalló.

El informe es el primer documento oficial de una dependencia del gobierno sobre el impacto que ha tenido en la salud mental de los menores la política de “tolerancia cero” del gobierno de Donald Trump, que dio lugar a la separación de familias. Se basa en entrevistas a un centenar de médicos especializados en salud mental que atendieron a los menores.

Un segundo informe del mismo organismo, difundido también ayer, indicó que miles de empleados del gobierno tuvieron acceso directo a los menores migrantes antes de completar la revisión de antecedentes y de que se les tomaran las huellas digitales.

El informe abarca un periodo del año pasado en el que las instalaciones para albergar migrantes estaban desbordadas. Unos 2,500 menores fueron separados de sus padres.

Los niños permanecieron en la frontera bajo custodia mientras sus padres eran llevados a tribunales federales para iniciarles procesos penales.

Los menores que pasaban más de 72 horas bajo custodia eran transferidos al Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos, que los ubicaba en albergues, donde permanecían hasta que eran entregados a un patrocinador, generalmente uno de sus padres o un familiar cercano.
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