Ideas worth spreading

The psychological impact of child separation at the US-Mexico border

2,096,138 views | Luis H. Zayas • TED Salon Border Stories

How does psychological trauma affect children's developing brains? In this powerful talk, social worker Luis H. Zayas discusses his work with refugees and asylum-seeking families at the US-Mexico border. What emerges is a stunning analysis of the long-term impact of the US's controversial detention and child separation policies -- and practical steps for how the country can do better.

How does psychological trauma affect children's developing brains? In this powerful talk, social worker Luis H. Zayas discusses his work with refugees and asylum-seeking families at the US-Mexico border. What emerges is a stunning analysis of the long-term impact of the US's controversial detention and child separation policies -- and practical steps for how the country can do better.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Learn more about the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES).

About the speaker

Luis H. Zayas

Social worker, psychologist, researcher

See speaker profile

Luis H. Zayas remains a proud active mental health practitioner through his evaluations of immigrant children and families facing deportation, and of refugee and asylum-seeking mothers and children in detention centers.

Joanne M. Chiedi | Office of Inspector General, 2019 | Article

"Care Provider Facilities Described Challenges Addressing Mental Health Needs Children in HHS Custody

The Inspector General of the US Department of Health and Human Services issued a sobering report on the mental health of children in immigration detention. A must read.

Human Rights First, 2019 | Article

Human Rights First issues reports

Human Rights First issues reports regularly that provide essential reading and facts for an informed public. My talk fits with Human Rights First’s effort to challenge America to live up to its ideals. See here for another recent report that related to my talk.

Luis Alberto Urrea | Little, Brown and Co., 2004 | Book

The Devil's Highway: A True Story

This is a gripping and evocative story of the experiences of a group of migrants crossing through rugged terrain in search of a livelihood and security. To get a sense of what the experience of migrating is like, the trauma and tragedies, Urrea’s book is essential reading.

Sonia Nazario | Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2007 | Book

Enrique's Journey: The Story of a Boy's Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with His Mother

When a boy seeks to reunite with his mother nothing will stop him. From Tegucigalpa, Honduras to the US East Coast, Enrique lives on the possibilities of finding and living with his mother. The book tells of how adversity looks from a young migrant’s eyes.

Luis H. Zayas | Oxford University Press, 2015 | Book

Forgotten Citizens: Deportation, Children, and the Making of American Exiles and Orphans

The mental health of children of immigrants is at the center of this book. It details the challenges when parents have to make decisions of whether to leave their children behind or take the children with them when they are deported.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Learn more about the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES).