President Donald Trump's zero-tolerance immigration policy has separated 1,995 minors from their guardians at the border between the U.S. and Mexico, and healthcare experts are warning about the negative health effects of his actions, The Hill reports.
From April 19 to the end of May, the 1,995 children taken at the border have been placed in shelters until U.S. sponsors for them can be found by the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The average length of stay for the children is 57 days.
"The toxic stress resulting from being separated or ripped away from your parents can result in mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder," said Ranit Mishori, MD, a professor of family medicine at Washington, D.C.-based Georgetown University. "But also, down the line, there is evidence that it contributes to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even cancer."
Under previous administrations, families would be kept together during immigration processing unless there were signs of abuse. The American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics are three organizations that have publicly called for the practice to end.
"Children depend on their parents for safety and support. Any forced separation is highly stressful for children and can cause lifelong trauma, as well as an increased risk of other mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder," said Altha Stewart, president of the American Psychiatric Association.