Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Immigrant families in Mass. are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis due to ICE detentions. Detainees often deal with difficulty getting support in detention. Their partners are left to manage what were formerly two-income households and must bear the strain of finding legal help and childcare. Mental health is an expensive, and often unattainable afterthought. Children endure long-lasting grief and anxiety.
“The behavioral health impacts we're seeing aren’t isolated incidents. They are predictable consequences of policies that separate families, create chronic fear, and make an entire community feel unsafe,” said Pietra Adami, organizing director at Brazilian Women’s Group. “This is not just about immigration. It’s about public health.”
This series explores the challenges immigrants touched by detention face in getting behavioral healthcare, existing supports and potential solutions to the deficit in trauma services.
Read more from the series here: wgbh.org/news/local/series/silent-detention
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Immigrant families in Mass. are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis due to ICE detentions. Detainees often deal with difficulty getting support in detention. Their partners are left to manage what were formerly two-income households and must bear the strain of finding legal help and childcare. Mental health is an expensive, and often unattainable afterthought. Children endure long-lasting grief and anxiety.
“The behavioral health impacts we're seeing aren’t isolated incidents. They are predictable consequences of policies that separate families, create chronic fear, and make an entire community feel unsafe,” said Pietra Adami, organizing director at Brazilian Women’s Group. “This is not just about immigration. It’s about public health.”
This series explores the challenges immigrants touched by detention face in getting behavioral healthcare, existing supports and potential solutions to the deficit in trauma services.
Read more from the series here: wgbh.org/news/local/series/silent-detention
GBH News wants to hear from YOU! We are conducting our annual audience survey 📝 bit.ly/3ZQXSQr. This will help us understand your interests and what you want to see more of from us. It only takes a few minutes, and we are grateful for your input. 🙌
GBH News is a premier source for in-depth local news and original story telling based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Subscribe to the GBH News YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/gbhnews?sub_confirmation=1
Subscribe to our GBH Daily newsletter at wgbh.org/daily?utm_Newsletter=GBH_Daily_YouTube_CTA
Follow GBH News on Instagram: instagram.com/gbhnews
Like GBH News on Facebook: facebook.com/gbhnews
Visit our website: wgbh.org/news
Support GBH and help shape a future where facts matter, stories unite us, and everyone has access to quality media. Join us. Fund the Future: bit.ly/FundtheFutureYT
