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Social workers are essential in meeting the humanitarian needs of individuals held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Their responsibilities extend well beyond basic case management. They provide trauma-informed care, advocacy, and comprehensive support for both the detained individuals and their families. The assistance they offer during and after detention can be transformative, greatly enhancing client outcomes and bringing hope and stability to families in distress.
Being detained by ICE is an incredibly traumatic experience. Individuals are often taken from their families unexpectedly and placed in settings filled with uncertainty, fear, and isolation. Many experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These mental health issues are worsened by the lack of sufficient medical or psychological support while in detention and the inability to see or talk to their loved ones. The families left behind also endure emotional distress and financial hardships, as the detained individual may have been the main provider. This leads to increased stress, food insecurity, housing instability, and emotional distress.
I worked with a father of three who faced several months of detention, which brought significant distress to him and his family. During this time, he suffered from severe depression, experiencing insomnia, anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness. His absence deeply affected his family. His wife, who then became the only breadwinner, barely met their financial needs, which put her under a lot of mental and emotional stress. The children also showed signs of emotional distress, struggling with anxiety and concentration issues at school.
As a social worker, I provided supportive counseling to my client while he was detained, helping him navigate his overwhelming emotions and teaching him coping strategies such as guided breathing, journaling, and reframing negative thoughts. I kept in touch with his family to ensure they received emotional support and access to vital resources. I worked with local organizations to provide food assistance, clothing donations, and medical care for his children.
After my client’s release, I continued to support him and his family by connecting him with a local mental health clinic for therapy and psychiatric help. Although reintegration was difficult, with ongoing support, the family gradually found their stability again. Even with their improved situation, the family remains burdened by the persistent fear of deportation. This ongoing worry affects every part of their lives. Social workers play a crucial role in alleviating this fear by educating clients on legal immigrant rights and providing emotional support.
The collaboration between immigration lawyers and social workers is crucial in these situations, and AFSC has excelled in offering these vital services to the community. By working alongside legal experts, social workers can craft letters of support and release plans that highlight the emotional and financial impacts of deportation, which may enhance the client’s case. Together, they can advocate for just treatment and due process, increasing the chances of a positive legal outcome.
The support that social workers provide to people in detention can make a world of difference to immigrants and their families. They serve as a link between trauma and recovery, isolation and community, fear and resilience. Through advocacy, counseling, and community support, social workers help restore dignity and hope to those who have endured some of life’s most challenging experiences. While the future may still be uncertain, the committed and compassionate support of a social worker can genuinely change lives.
Increasing funding for the Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative (DDDI) is critical to ensuring that more individuals receive the legal support they need to fight detention and deportation. Under previous detention rates, DDDI was able to support 42% of people in detention. However, with the current administration implementing what has been described as the “largest mass deportation in our nation’s history” through a series of executive orders designed to expand detention, communities are at greater risk than ever. Only 4% of people have a chance to win their case without an attorney. We are calling for New Jersey legislators to increase the DDDI budget to $19.5 million in order to better meet the needs of our immigrant communities.
Lorelly Frias, B.A.
Social Worker