The Disturbing Parallels Between Slave-Era Family Separations and Current ICE Raids

The practice of separating families during chattel slavery in America leaves an ineradicable mark on American history. Like the days of old, family separation was a common tactic used to punish, create fear, hopelessness, and dependency among slaves, a method of psychological conditioning that proved more valuable to slaveowners than any financial profit. Today, modern ICE raids shed light on how family separations continue to affect historically excluded groups, especially among Hispanic immigrant communities. This post explores the emotional and social implications of these separations, linking the past to present immigration policies and their impact on children and families.

Tracing History: The Separation of Children and Families During Slavery

America's legacy of separating families pre-dates the 1960s "man-in-the-house" rule, the War on Drugs, and the child welfare system that strategically targeted Black mothers, resulting in disproportionate rates of Black children entering the foster care system. Dismantling the Black family structure by way of forceful yet legal separation began upon the inception of slavery. More than half of the enslaved population experienced the sale of a loved one at some point in their lives, particularly the sale of a child or children. Because children were counted as "half hands" due to their age and capacity for labor, slaveowners struggled with the idea of delayed rewards over immediate gain. This frequently prompted the sale of enslaved children faster than disputes or separation by the division of family estates. When children were taken away from their families, both girls and boys were at the cruel mercy of their masters; rape, abuse, and barbaric punishment for the smallest infraction shattered many childhoods. The reunification of enslaved Black children and their families was rare and often impossible. Once separated, families had little to no control over their fate, making reunification extremely difficult, thus impossible.

The brutal system of slavery, the first American enterprise, prioritized profit, power, and efficiency over human connection, viewing enslaved people as soulless beings whose bonds were insignificant and could be easily broken. This cruel indifference to Black families was an essential element of slavery, contributing to the enduring trans-generational trauma that currently plagues the descendants of slaves.

Modern-Day Parallels: ICE Raids and Child and Family Separations

In today's America, ICE raids starkly mimic the family separations of the past—intrude, asunder, and plunder. A public outcry for the stripping of migrant children, even infants from nursing mothers, sparked a worldwide debate on Trump's 2018 "Zero Tolerance" Policy, citing its inhumane nature as a reference from America's racist playbook. In May 2025 alone, recent data shows that Trump Administration's immigration policy has prompted the apprehension of 23,662 immigrants by ICE agents and 5,234 released to ICE custody by U.S. Customs & Border Patrol; Adams County Detention Center in Natchez, Mississippi has reportedly confined the largest number of ICE detainees. As in 2018, Trump's policy has been catastrophic, leaving countless children unaccompanied and misplaced in federal care as they await proceedings. This "care" takes the form of shelters controlled by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, if not the state, for those who were born as legal citizens. Thousands of these children reportedly suffer from physical and sexual abuse, human trafficking, and harassment by staff members while in U.S. custody. Most immigrant children are never reunited with family members, especially if they have no legal relatives residing in the U.S.

While the historical and legal contexts slightly differ for Black slaves and Hispanic immigrants, the experiences and emotional and psychological toll on children and families remain strikingly similar, revealing the pattern of family disruption as a tool to keep communities of "color" systematically oppressed.

Impact on the Lives of Hispanic Children

The impact of ICE raids on Hispanic communities is increasingly profound; many families face the daily threat of separation, leading to intense fear, chronic anxiety, sleep disturbances, feelings of grief and devastation, and a sense of abandonment, particularly for children. The sudden and often violent nature of raids erodes a child’s sense of safety and stability, damaging their trust in authority figures and institutions.

Furthermore, studies reveal that children whose parents are detained or deported are prone to academic setbacks as ICE raids cause undeniable and irreparable chaos within schools. When parents fear the worst, children stay home; this drop in attendance directly correlates to their educational experiences. Teachers often find it challenging to create engaging environments when students, anxious about their home lives, are unable to focus. In one instance, a school in a heavily raided neighborhood reported that more than half of its Hispanic students missed classes during one month of heightened ICE activity. The effects of these raids not only ravage lives but also classrooms, leading to a fragmented educational experience for all in observance.

Bridging the Past and Present: What We Learn & How We Cope

The parallels between historical and modern family separations reveal critical sentiments about the value of family integrity in reference to Black and Brown communities. As we confront the current challenges of family separations, the community can help heal and revitalize itself by strengthening its systems of support. Here is how justice can begin to take shape with the help of neighboring communities:

• Advocacy through Awareness: Black community leaders and members can use their platforms to raise awareness about the emotional and human cost of immigration raids, drawing historical parallels with family separations during slavery to emphasize the shared legacy of oppression.

• Community Organizing: Black and Hispanic communities can unite to resist unjust immigration policies, initiate and support sanctuary efforts, and push for humane immigration reform through solidarity.

• Legal and Emotional Support: Black professionals, such as lawyers, social workers, educators, and mental health providers, can offer their expertise to immigrant families in need, helping them navigate the legal system or cope with the psychological toll.

• Mutual Aid and Resource Sharing: Churches, nonprofits, and grassroots organizations within the Black community can partner with immigrant-serving groups to provide emergency assistance, shelter, childcare, or financial aid to families affected by raids.

• Education and Bridge-Building: Encouraging dialogue between Black and Hispanic communities helps break down stereotypes, build empathy, and foster unity in fighting shared struggles like systemic racism, over-policing, and family separation.

Hispanic immigrants at the order of CBP, courtesy of the Southern Poverty Law Center

A close-up view of an empty classroom, reflecting the physical and emotional absence of children impacted by family separation.