ICE Raid Leaves Children With Nightmares and Fear

You are at home with your kids before sunrise. Agents knock. Then comes the sound — 'da-da-da-da-da' — as a machine breaks down your door. That is what happened to Jennifer and her family in East Elmhurst, Queens, last November. ICE agents entered their apartment looking for Jennifer's cousin. They questioned Jennifer and left within two hours. But the damage to her children did not leave with them.

What the children experienced

J., now 10, still has nightmares. He struggles to focus in class. When a classmate mentioned ICE to taunt him, he had flashbacks. His older sister Jay, 13, also woke up at night shaken by dreams of agents taking their parents away. During the raid, J. and Jay tried to film the agents on an iPad to protect their mother. In response, agents pointed a gun at J. and told him to raise his hands. Jennifer told Documented that agents called her a 'stupid bitch' during the encounter. The Department of Homeland Security denied breaking in, saying officers knocked for 20 minutes before entering lawfully. The family spent a month in a hotel after the raid, afraid ICE would return.

A nationwide pattern, not just one family

Researchers say this family's experience is not unusual. A Brookings Institute analysis estimates that roughly 145,000 U.S. citizen children have likely experienced a parent booked into immigration detention since early 2025. A survey of 753 educators conducted by EdWeek found that 57% said students have expressed fear or anxiety linked to immigration enforcement. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that pervasive immigration enforcement harms children's physical and emotional development. Susana Beltrán-Grimm, an assistant professor of applied developmental psychology at Portland State University who researches this topic, told Documented: 'Children are living with this socio-emotional labor on them, taking on an almost adult role. There's going to be drastic consequences.' The American Psychological Association has called for more culturally responsive mental health care for immigrant families, who are already at higher risk of anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Jennifer says she feels better now but worries about her children. Her husband Rigoberto, who was at work the morning of the raid, still carries guilt. A teacher connected the older children to psychologists, and the family is slowly returning to normal activities — soccer, mariachi rehearsal, family outings. J. plays trumpet and hopes to perform his favorite song 'El Rey' again soon. 'I feel good now because my memory is like going away,' he said.

What to do if ICE comes to your door

• Do not open the door unless agents show a signed judicial warrant — a warrant signed by a judge, not just an administrative ICE document. Ask them to slide it under the door or hold it to a window so you can read it.
• Stay calm and say clearly: 'I do not consent to entry.' You have the right to remain silent. Do not answer questions about your immigration status without a lawyer present.
• If agents enter anyway, do not physically resist. Remember badge numbers, agent names, and what was said. Write it down as soon as possible.
• Contact an immigration lawyer (deportation defense attorney) immediately after any ICE encounter. Many nonprofit legal organizations offer free or low-cost help. If your children are showing signs of trauma — nightmares, fear, trouble focusing — ask their school counselor or doctor about mental health resources for immigrant families.