CAYL Catalyst Ep #53 - Immigrant Children: The Facts and The Future

Immigrant issues often dominate the headlines—but what about the children? Millions of children in the United States are growing up in immigrant families, including “mixed-status” households where some members are immigrants and others are not. These children face unique challenges and opportunities that too often go unseen in public discourse.

As part of our ongoing series, this webinar brings together leading experts to shed light on the realities facing children in immigrant families today. Together, we will:
-Explore the latest data on the academic, social, and emotional well-being of children in immigrant and mixed-status families;
-Examine how current policy environments shape their daily lives and long-term outcomes;
-Highlight the organizations, advocates, and communities stepping up to provide critical support;
-Consider what comes next—what policies, practices, and partnerships are needed to ensure these children and families can thrive.

Watch this timely and important conversation as we lift up the voices and experiences of children in immigrant families, and chart a path toward stronger systems of support.
Featuring:
Dr. Julie Sugarman - Associate Director for K-12 Education Research, Migration Policy Institute’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy
Adrián Pedroza - National Executive Director, Abriendo Puertas l Opening Doors
Wendy D. Cervantes - Director, Immigration and Immigrant Families, CLASP
Kathy Byrne - ParentChild+ coordinator
Hosted by Dr. Valora Washington - CEO & President, The CAYL Institute
(Recorded on October 3, 2025)

Featured Resources:
From The CAYL Institute:
CAYL Catalyst Ep. #26 - Leveraging Latinx Leadership
   • CAYL Catalyst Ep. #26 - Leveraging Latinx ...  

CAYL Catalyst Ep #48 - Our Professional Promise: Belonging, Equity, and Inclusion
   • CAYL Catalyst Ep #48 - Our Professional Pr...  

Panelist Resources:
Center for Law and Social Policy
https://www.clasp.org/

AP/OD
https://ap-od.org/

Migration Policy Institute
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/

ParentChild+
parentchildplus.org

Children Thrive Action Network
https://childrenthriveaction.org/

National Latino Family Report 2025 (AP/OD)
https://nationalsurvey.ap-od.org/2025...

Immigration, Know Your Rights (AP/OD)
https://ap-od.org/2019/03/24/immigrat...

Latino Infant Initiative
https://latinoinfants.org

Schools and Immigrant Students Navigate an Era of Rising Immigration Enforcement
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/...

A Data Profile of Young Dual Language Learners and Implications for Early Childhood Programs https://www.migrationpolicy.org/resea...

Legal Protections for K-12 English Learner and Immigrant-Background Students
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/resea...

A Guide to Creating “Safe Space” Policies for Early Childhood Programs
https://www.clasp.org/publications/re...

Additional Resources:
Nearly Half a Million Early Childhood Educators Are Immigrants (CSCCE)
https://cscce.berkeley.edu/publicatio...

H.R. 1 Immigration Provisions Worsen Conditions for ECE
https://cscce.berkeley.edu/publicatio...

“Who’s going to take care of your child?”: Parents reel from Trump ICE crackdown https://www.salon.com/2025/08/25/whos...

Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition
https://www.miracoalition.org/