Researchers reviewed 15 studies involving nearly 5,000 children who were held in immigration detention while seeking asylum or refugee status. They found that detained children experienced serious mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and PTSD, along with physical health issues including malnutrition and dental problems. The longer children stayed in detention, especially when separated from parents, the worse their health became. The study shows that detention is harmful to children’s development and calls for governments to stop detaining children and instead keep families together while processing their cases.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How does being held in immigration detention affect the physical and mental health of children seeking asylum or refugee protection?
  • Who participated: Nearly 5,000 children from wealthy countries who were detained while seeking asylum or refugee status. Studies came from 15 different research projects conducted between 1808 and October 2024.
  • Key finding: Almost all detained children (75% or more) experienced mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Additionally, many children suffered from malnutrition (24-56%), tooth decay (21-54%), and vitamin D deficiency (51%). The longer children stayed in detention and the more they were separated from family, the worse their health problems became.
  • What it means for you: If you care about child welfare or policy, this research strongly suggests that detaining children seeking asylum causes serious, lasting harm to their physical and mental health. This evidence supports changing laws to stop detaining children and keeping families together during the asylum process. However, this research doesn’t directly apply to individual medical decisions but rather informs policy discussions.

The Research Details

Researchers conducted a systematic review, which means they carefully searched through thousands of scientific papers to find all studies about how immigration detention affects children’s health. They found 15 high-quality studies that included nearly 5,000 children. For the strongest analysis, they combined data from three studies (239 children) that all used the same measurement tool to assess children’s emotional and behavioral problems. This combined analysis, called a meta-analysis, allowed them to see patterns across multiple studies. The studies looked at children detained for different lengths of time, from as short as 2 weeks to as long as 36 months (3 years).

The researchers used a trusted quality-checking system called the Joanna Briggs Institute tools to make sure the studies they included were reliable and well-designed. They searched for studies using specific keywords related to children, asylum, trauma, mental illness, and detention across multiple medical databases. This careful approach helps ensure they didn’t miss important research and that they only included trustworthy studies.

This research approach is important because it brings together evidence from many different studies conducted in different countries and settings. By combining results, researchers can see whether the harmful effects of detention are consistent across different situations or if they vary. This type of large-scale review is more convincing than any single study alone because it shows patterns that appear repeatedly. The meta-analysis of three studies using the same measurement tool is particularly valuable because it allows for statistical comparison, making the findings more scientifically robust.

Most of the studies reviewed were cross-sectional, meaning they looked at children at one point in time rather than following them over months or years. This limits our ability to prove that detention directly causes the health problems, though the evidence strongly suggests a connection. The fact that all 15 studies found harmful effects is a strong indicator that the findings are reliable. The research was conducted in wealthy countries with good healthcare systems, so results may not apply to all detention settings worldwide. The studies included children of different ages and from different countries, which makes the findings more broadly applicable.

What the Results Show

The analysis found that detained children experienced very high rates of mental health problems. More than 75% of all detained children showed signs of emotional distress and behavioral difficulties. When researchers combined data from three studies using the same measurement tool (the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), they found significant increases in emotional and behavioral problems compared to what would be expected in children not in detention.

The most common mental health problems included PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), depression, and anxiety. PTSD rates ranged from 6.5% in children with brief detention to over 75% in children detained for longer periods. This shows a clear pattern: the longer children stayed in detention, the worse their mental health became. Some children also experienced somatic complaints, which are physical symptoms caused by stress, such as headaches and bedwetting.

Physical health problems were also widespread. Between 24-56% of detained children showed signs of malnutrition (not getting enough food or nutrients). Dental problems like cavities affected 21-54% of children. Vitamin D deficiency, which can affect bone health and immunity, was found in 51% of detained children. These physical health issues suggest that detention facilities often lack adequate nutrition, healthcare, and access to sunlight.

The research identified several factors that made the harmful effects of detention worse. Family separation was particularly damaging—children separated from their parents experienced worse mental health outcomes than those detained with family members. The cumulative effect of trauma also mattered; children who had already experienced trauma before detention (such as war or violence) were more severely affected by detention. When parents themselves had mental health problems (found in 54% of cases), children’s outcomes were worse. Dehumanizing conditions in detention facilities, such as being identified only by numbers rather than names, also increased psychological harm. The duration of detention was the strongest predictor of harm—children detained for longer periods consistently showed worse health outcomes across all studies.

This systematic review consolidates existing evidence and confirms what previous research has suggested: immigration detention is a form of early-life adversity that causes serious harm to children. The findings align with research on other forms of childhood trauma and stress. Importantly, the review notes that when children were resettled and provided with stability and community support, they showed recovery trajectories, suggesting that the harm from detention is not necessarily permanent if proper support is provided afterward. This adds hope to the findings—recovery is possible with appropriate intervention.

The main limitation is that most studies were cross-sectional, meaning they took a snapshot at one point in time rather than following children over months or years. This makes it harder to prove that detention directly causes the health problems, though the consistent findings across all 15 studies strongly suggest a causal relationship. The research focused on wealthy countries, so results may not apply to detention settings in lower-income countries. The studies varied in how they measured health outcomes, which made combining some data difficult. Additionally, some children in detention may not have been included in studies, so the actual prevalence of health problems might be different. The review couldn’t assess whether some health problems existed before detention began, though the consistent pattern across studies suggests detention is the primary cause.

The Bottom Line

Based on this strong evidence, the clear recommendation is that governments should stop detaining children seeking asylum and refugee protection. Instead, they should: (1) Keep families together during the asylum process, (2) Use community-based alternatives to detention, (3) Provide trauma-informed care that recognizes children’s past experiences, and (4) Ensure adequate nutrition, healthcare, and humane conditions if any detention must occur. These recommendations have high confidence because all 15 studies showed harmful effects. For children who have been detained, mental health support and stable community placement are essential for recovery.

Policymakers, government officials, and legislators should prioritize these findings when making decisions about immigration policy and detention practices. Child welfare advocates, healthcare providers, and mental health professionals should use this evidence to support policy reform. Parents and community members concerned about child welfare should be aware of these findings. This research should NOT be used to make individual medical diagnoses—that requires professional evaluation. The findings apply to detained asylum-seeking and refugee children, not to other populations.

The harmful effects of detention appear quickly—even brief detention of 2 weeks showed negative impacts. The longer children remain in detention, the worse the effects become. Recovery is possible but takes time; children who are resettled and provided with stability and community support show improvement, though this may take months to years depending on the severity of their experiences and the quality of support provided.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If you work with or support detained or formerly detained children, track their access to mental health services and community support. Measure: (1) Number of mental health appointments attended per month, (2) School attendance and academic engagement, (3) Sleep quality and behavioral changes, (4) Physical health markers like nutrition and dental care. These metrics help identify whether children are receiving adequate support for recovery.
  • For advocates and supporters: Use this research to inform policy discussions and community education. Share findings with elected representatives and participate in advocacy for detention reform. For healthcare providers: Implement trauma-informed care practices when working with children who have experienced detention. For communities: Develop support programs that provide stability, mental health services, and community connection for resettled children, as evidence shows these interventions support recovery.
  • Long-term monitoring should focus on children’s mental health recovery after detention ends. Track: (1) Mental health symptoms over 6-12 months post-release, (2) School performance and social integration, (3) Physical health improvements with proper nutrition and healthcare, (4) Family reunification status and quality of family relationships. This ongoing monitoring helps identify which support interventions are most effective and ensures children receive appropriate care.

This research summary is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. The findings presented are based on a systematic review of research studies and should not be used to diagnose or treat individual children. If you are concerned about a child’s mental or physical health, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider. This research informs policy discussions about immigration detention practices and is not intended for individual clinical decision-making. The studies reviewed were conducted in wealthy countries and may not apply to all detention settings worldwide.