Widespread mass deportations promised by President Trump have not yet occurred, but the fear of such raids happening and being caught in them, is already impacting immigrants’ mental health. A 2025 Abriendo Puertas-Opening Doors (AP-OD) and UnidosUS National Latino Family Survey, the majority (57%) of Latino parents and primary caregivers are concerned— including 74% of Latino immigrants who are very concerned—that some of their friends and family members may face deportation.
Clínica Romero, which offers individual counseling, child, adolescent and couple’s counseling, psychiatry services, family therapy, and DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services) Court-approve services is also noticing these trends.
Caryn Cortez, Behavioral Health Department Manager, says a majority of their immigrant clients are reporting fear and anxiety regarding possible raids.
In January, Cortez said they thought they would get an influx of patients negatively affected by the wildfires, and they even thought of creating a therapy group program around this, but they ended up switching the focus of the group to one that deal with general anxiety and fear, and adding specific aspects of immigration such as creating a safety plan for the family in case of a deportation.
Caryn Cortez, Behavioral Health Department Manager, says a majority of their immigrant clients are reporting fear and anxiety regarding possible raids.
The 8-week program with weekly sessions would be both virtual and in-person to deal with another byproduct of this fear: patients not wanting to leave their homes.
“They say they don’t want to go out in public,” Cortez says. “Many have canceled their appointments or have switched to telehealth.”
This has even affected dental and optometry appointments.
The trend began to surface toward the end of January after President Trump’s inauguration and continued during February. It has slowed down some, but “there is still a lot of fear,” Cortez adds.
ANXIETY
Anxiety often develops after a major event happens and is marked by hypervigilance, nightmares, and even stomachaches and headaches.
With a good social support system, these symptoms will often dissipate over a 30-day period. But if they continue and it begins to impact work or cause arguments with partners or family members, it may become a diagnosable disorder, Cortez explains.
A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Cortez mostly works with DCFS cases, but the therapists she supervises say some 60% of their patients are concerned about their children being left behind in case of a deportation, and about their employment.
She says they report that they’re afraid to go out in public and be caught up in a raid that ends up in deportation.
To deal with this anxiety and fear, Cortez says patients are helped to develop coping skills such as deep breaths and muscle relaxation, as well as taking walks and making sure to sleep well.
Therapists also recommend doing the practical: identify people and consider legal options (including temporary guardianship of children) in case a parent is deported. The important thing is to develop a solution that works for the family.
The therapists she supervises say some 60% of their patients are concerned about their children being left behind in case of a deportation, and about their employment.
Add to those fears the uncertainty about the economy and higher prices for families that are already struggling financially, and it’s no surprise that people’s mental health is suffering.
And it’s not just parents. Children are also dealing with these stresses.
Cortez says a few parents have told therapists they don’t know how to talk to their children who are worried about going to school and their parents being detained while they take them there.
“School is not just an environment to socialize and learn (for children), now they have to worry not only about school shootings but immigration,” she adds.
Cortez believes that these trends will continue, and may worsen if the promised raids do come to pass.
“As long as these raids stay prevalent and newsworthy, it’s going to continue to instill fear, at least for the next four years,” she says.
