President Donald Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders this year that include immigration-related policy decisions.
To help social workers understand the impact these decisions and actions are having on individuals, children and families, NASW President Yvonne Chase hosted a Facebook Live event in April to discuss what social workers and others can do to help immigrants who are impacted.
The event, “Supporting Immigrant Communities: A Conversation for Social Workers,” is part of an ongoing series on Facebook called “Chase Chats,” where Dr. Chase and guest panelists discuss current topics relevant to social workers. A previous chat addressed the importance of self-care for social workers.
Attendees of the April event had the opportunity to hear about the struggles immigrant and mixed-status families face, learn about available resources, and explore strategies to promote resilience and well-being.
Panelist Melissa Adamson, attorney for the National Center for Youth Law, said her organization has been helping immigrant children since the 1980s.
“We’re one of the only organizations in the country that are allowed to visit (immigration) facilities, interview children, and then file litigation to enforce their rights,” Adamson said. “Today we continue to do that work.”
Adamson said the current Trump administration has enacted policies that endanger immigrant children or families at every stage of migration. She said it is particularly important to highlight how the administration is handling unaccompanied children or those under age 18 that arrive at the border without a parent or guardian.
The administration has changed sponsor-vetting policies for these young people, Adamson said, making it harder for them to be released to sponsors.
“Sponsors are now more afraid to get custody because the administration is so laser focused on mass deportations,” she said.
The government’s actions have resulted in children’s length of time in federal custody doubling since December 2024.
“We know detention is not safe for children,” Adamson said. “We know the longer children spend in federal custody, the more exposure to harm, (and) their mental health deteriorates.”
The government also has taken away their lawyers, she said. “This leaves kids as young as 2 years old alone, to represent themselves in immigration court.”
These attorneys are critical to support immigrant children’s health and safety while in custody and helping them access their legal rights, she said.
“This is a huge issue that everyone should be aware of,” Adamson noted. “There are thousands of kids in government custody right now that are likely to be there for a long time.”
She said her organization spends time advocating for these children with U.S. Congress members, committees and caucuses, and keeps lawmakers informed.
The Trump administration also has taken extreme steps to deport immigrants.
Panelist Mel Wilson, senior policy adviser at NASW, noted that in March, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act for the first time since World War II, granting himself sweeping powers under a centuries-old law to deport people.
The act is a wartime authority that allows noncitizens to be deported without the opportunity to go before an immigration or federal court judge.
This law was used to deport hundreds of immigrants the administration has accused of gang membership to El Salvador’s mega prison. There is no due process for those charged with violating this act, Wilson said.
“It goes beyond immigration, it is absolutely about human rights,” he said. “It’s absolutely about social justice and absolutely about the rule of law ... .”
Panelist Leti Cavazos is the founder and CEO of the Cannenta Center for Healing and Empowerment in Dallas, Texas. She said the center was established to serve the Hispanic community and to provide mental health services that aid in breaking language and cultural barriers.
Through the center’s foundation, they aim to break financial barriers to treatment as well.
“We see a lot of individuals who are uninsured, undocumented, who are struggling with the trauma of moving to a new country,” Cavazos said.
She said clients at her organization are expressing fear and confusion as a result of the Trump administration’s actions on immigration.
“A lot of people are not really well versed on what their rights are,” she said. The center is trying to get the word out to impacted immigrants about their rights and to encourage them to come up with an immigration safety plan, she said.
In addition, some people are afraid to go to the center because they believe it might be raided and authorities will question their citizenship, Cavazos said. “This isn’t just affecting their mental health, but it’s also affecting their primary health. Kids aren’t going to school; people are afraid to go to work.”
She said the center is trying to give these people as many tools as possible, so they can be prepared.
Panelist April Ferguson, senior practice associate for children and adolescents at NASW, said the NASW document she wrote, “Navigating Policy Changes Related to Schools and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)” helps address questions social workers who work in schools may have.
She noted that schools are releasing guidance for school personnel, including social workers, in how to interact with ICE. The document also includes trusted resources to help people stay informed.