AAP issues statement on protecting immigrant children
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released an official statement explaining the impact of President Trump’s new policies on refugee children. Children are not immigrating, they are running away from a bad situation. Family detention only causes children to suffer more. When children are scared, they experience toxic stress. Short or long-term toxic stress negatively impacts development both physically and mentally. Refugee children and their families deserve to be healthy and safe. They should be treated with compassion. Trump’s policies instead treat them as criminals and lock children up in cells.