The Story Behind the Story: Anthony Advincula Discusses the Mental Health Impacts of Deportations on Children
March 19, 2014
New-York based writer and editor Anthony Advincula reported on the impacts of deportations on the mental health of U.S.-born children as a 2013 National Health Journalism Fellow.
The New American Media reporter had his interest piqued by the story of Hena, a girl who struggled emotionally for years after her mother was deported. Hena ultimately was diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder years later.
As the rate of deportations has increased in recent years, Advincula decided to revisit the story.
But Hena, like most, did not want to participate. It took him months to find a subject who would speak openly.
Hear how he overcame this and other challenges, in the following interview.
Comments
What about legal Americans
My neighbor Tom lost his job as a skilled carpenter to illegal aliens being paid $8/hour cash, no benefits.
When is the writer going to write about LEGAL Americans who have lost their jobs to illegals?
Scapegoats and ignorance
This is an ongoing problem: undocumented immigrants are often blamed for reasons of expediency. When Tom Smith lost his job, it is the fault of the undocumented immigrants. When there is a big fire in California, it is the wrongdoing of undocumented immigrants. And even the runaway bride from Duluth, GA, I remember, she also blamed the undocumented immigrants, saying that she was abducted by them for ransom. They are our scapegoats, clearly. But the main problem is someone like you, Ro, who perpetuates this notion that undocumented immigrants steal jobs and rape our healthcare and education system, even though studies after studies show that none of those claims were true. Ignorance, Ro, is the one that is eating you up. Read more and get more versed in current issues -- and that way you won't look really stupid.