Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America
The Child Asylum Seeker: Psychological and Developmental Impact of Immigration Detention
Section snippets
Child asylum seekers and policies of deterrence
The late twentieth century has witnessed an increase in the number of persons affected by war, persecution, and displacement. Significant numbers of adults and children have been exposed to trauma and violence during recent decades [1]. Children constitute a significant proportion of asylum-seeking and refugee populations worldwide and are particularly vulnerable to the effects of trauma, displacement, and loss.
At the end of 2005, of the 19 million persons of concern to the Office of the United
Children and immigration detention: an international overview
Perhaps the most controversial policy in recent years has been the administrative application of immigration detention to certain categories of asylum seekers, including children, for all or part of the refugee determination process. The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and, until recently, Australia detain significant numbers of children for immigration-related matters [16], [17]. The routine practice of detaining children, either alone or as part of a family group, seems to
The Australian experience of mandatory detention
Australia was the first developed nation to introduce a policy of mandatory detention of all unauthorized arrivals coming by boat or without a valid entry visa. In 1994 an original 273-day time limit on detention was removed, allowing indefinite detention with no exemptions made for children or unaccompanied minors. The Australian High Court confirmed the power of the state to detain unlawful noncitizens indefinitely for the purposes of immigration control and ruled that immigration law took
Psychological impact of detention on children
As indicated previously, the bulk of evidence regarding the psychological impact of detention on children has emerged from inquiries and research undertaken into the operation of the mandatory detention policy in Australia. Data from a variety of sources, including several Commissions of Inquiry evaluating detention centers and observations of health professionals working in the centers, raise serious concerns about the negative effect of detention on child development and mental health.
Children and exposure to trauma in detention
Among asylum seekers, children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of both premigration trauma and their experiences in seeking asylum. The capacity of children to cope with the asylum-seeking experience is complex and depends on the severity of premigration experiences, the child's developmental stage, and the responses of adult caretakers. The predicament of the asylum-seeking child is compounded by the high rates of trauma and distress in parents who essentially are emotionally
Advocacy, ethics, and dilemmas for clinicians
Many clinicians involved in work with detained asylum seekers have commented on the inherent difficulties of providing meaningful intervention in this setting. A fundamental dilemma emerges when the nature of the environment itself is seen as contributing in a major way to detainees' mental health issues. For children, this situation is even more acute when their overall development is compromised by environmental neglect and the impact of detention on family functioning. These issues affect
Summary
An understanding of and response to the high rates of mental disorder among asylum seekers needs to include an understanding of the circumstances of their flight, past trauma, and current situation. This understanding includes an evaluation of current stressors, such as being held indefinitely in detention, being subject to incomprehensible legal and administrative processes, and having little control over daily life. The experience of being a detainee, with limited ways of communicating one's
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