Entering foster care is a traumatic experience. Children and youth shouldn’t be separated from their parents because of deportation.

Recent national news reports show that in at least 5 states, children and youth entered foster care after their parents were detained or deported. Many states don’t track whether this is happening, and the federal government doesn’t either.

Young people have been telling us about this problem for years.

“I was born here [and therefore] kept here, but my mother was deported.”
- Former Foster Youth on their entry into foster care

They’re also doing something about it.

Young people from the National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council created recommendations for lawmakers and people directly working with young people. Their recommendations focus on keeping families together safely and provide support, including:

• Prevent unnecessary entry into foster care for children and youth with immigrant parents.
• Connect our families to support 

Read the full recommendations on Supporting Immigrant Children and Youth in Foster Care and Preventing Unnecessary Removal of Children from their Families. 

Share these recommendations with policymakers, child welfare leaders and advocates in your community. Help ensure decision-makers listen to young people.