A Brookings Institution report released Monday estimates that more than 145,000 U.S. citizen children have likely had a parent detained by immigration authorities during Donald Trump’s second presidency. The study attributes the figure to detention connected to immigration enforcement actions that begin after Trump retakes office in early January.
According to the report, the total estimate is 146,635 children whose U.S.-citizen status is identified and who experienced the detention of at least one co-resident parent. The report also says that more than 22,000 of these children experienced the detention of all of their co-resident parents, meaning both parents (in cases where two co-resident parents were present) were detained.
The Guardian adds that the report finds about 36% of the children affected are younger than six, based on the study’s analysis of those children. The Hill similarly reports that the Brookings findings indicate a large number of children have been separated from parents due to detention tied to their immigration status or related enforcement.
The outlets describe the report as an estimate based on available data rather than a full count of every case.
