Underwood Questions Experts on Health Impacts of Family Separation on Children

WASHINGTON– Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Vice Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security, yesterday joined the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations to hear from health experts on impacts of the family separation policy on children separated at the border. During this hearing, Underwood continued her efforts to highlight how toxic stress impacts children. Experts agree that the immediate and long-term effects of child separation is harmful to the health of children.

"Three weeks ago, when I asked Secretary Nielsen about how family separation impacts children's health, she was unaware of basic facts like the concept of toxic stress and completely unprepared. From a medical perspective, if you wanted to purposely design a policy to be cruel – to hurt children – you would design it a lot like this Administration's family separation policy," said Congresswoman Underwood.

Earlier this month, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Nielsen testified before the Committee for the first time since the Administration instituted the family separation policy. During this hearing, Underwood questioned Secretary Nielsen on the effects of toxic stress on children being separated from their families. Secretary Nielsen has yet to provide follow-up information to the Committee on the family separation policy.

Full video of Underwood's remarks can be found here.

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