Immigrant Children Lost in Education Reform - NAM:
"Ruby Takanishi, president and chief executive officer of Foundation for Child Development, recently co-edited a new book titled, Immigration, Diversity and Education, with Elena L. Grigorenko. She spoke with New America Media Education Editor Carolyn Ji Jong Goossen about the current challenges facing immigrant children in the United States and the reforms needed to support their future health, wellbeing, and academic success.
Do you feel like the new administration has adequately addressed immigrant children’s issues thus far?
No. The fact of the matter is that immigrant children are not on anybody’s agenda, except in a negative way. First of all, there has already been a decision to exclude many immigrant children and their families from public health insurance access. There is also very little discussion in the education initiatives being presented, including the “Race To The Top” funds, the stimulus funds, and even the No Child Left Behind policy. The opportunities for doing positive social policy is not evident.
I would say that in terms of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics, it does seem to be that the shift from going after employees to going after employers would be less traumatic to children.That’s not to say that undocumented workers won’t still lose their jobs, but at least their parents won’t disappear. I understand that they are trying to change some of their practices of detaining families in detention facilities, so that’s certainly encouraging. But overall, I personally have been very disappointed that the administration had opportunities to do positive things for children of immigrants, but hasn’t done anything so far."
"Ruby Takanishi, president and chief executive officer of Foundation for Child Development, recently co-edited a new book titled, Immigration, Diversity and Education, with Elena L. Grigorenko. She spoke with New America Media Education Editor Carolyn Ji Jong Goossen about the current challenges facing immigrant children in the United States and the reforms needed to support their future health, wellbeing, and academic success.
Do you feel like the new administration has adequately addressed immigrant children’s issues thus far?
No. The fact of the matter is that immigrant children are not on anybody’s agenda, except in a negative way. First of all, there has already been a decision to exclude many immigrant children and their families from public health insurance access. There is also very little discussion in the education initiatives being presented, including the “Race To The Top” funds, the stimulus funds, and even the No Child Left Behind policy. The opportunities for doing positive social policy is not evident.
I would say that in terms of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics, it does seem to be that the shift from going after employees to going after employers would be less traumatic to children.That’s not to say that undocumented workers won’t still lose their jobs, but at least their parents won’t disappear. I understand that they are trying to change some of their practices of detaining families in detention facilities, so that’s certainly encouraging. But overall, I personally have been very disappointed that the administration had opportunities to do positive things for children of immigrants, but hasn’t done anything so far."