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Safe-Zone Schools and Children with Undocumented ParentsUndocumented parents
Book chapter

Safe-Zone Schools and Children with Undocumented ParentsUndocumented parents

Catalina Amuedo-Dorantes, José R. Bucheli and Ana P. Martinez-Donate
Parent-Child Separation
27 Nov 2021

Abstract

Academic progression Children Educational outcomes Immigration enforcement Mixed-status households Safe zones Safe-zone schools Sanctuary policies Undocumented immigrants Undocumented parents Education
Growing concerns about the mental health and educational implications of intensified interior immigration enforcement on children in mixed-status households have led many school districts across the country to adopt “safe-zone” policies aimed at supporting their students’ well-being and academic progression. Using preliminary data from a binational survey conducted on US-born children in mixed-status households who have experienced or are at risk of parental deportation, we exploit the geographic variation in the adoption of safe-zone policies to assess if, and how, the policies might shield students from the negative impacts of intensified interior immigration enforcement. We find that heightened immigration enforcement has a detrimental impact on children’s educational performance, whereas safe zones help mitigate such effects. Overall, the results advance our understanding of the costs that immigration policies impose on migrants and US citizens alike, as well as the benefits of local sanctuary policies.

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