The Babies Left Behind in America
The United States is deporting parents without their children, creating a whole new family-separation crisis.
Caitlin Dickerson
Caitlin Dickerson has been a staff writer at The Atlantic since 2021. In 2023, she won the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting, the Livingston Award for National Reporting, and the Silvers-Dudley Prize.
Before joining The Atlantic, Dickerson spent five years as a reporter for The New York Times, and five years as a producer and reporter for NPR. Her investigative reporting and long-form feature writing have also been recognized with a Peabody, an Edward R. Murrow award, and two National Association of Black Journalists Salute to Excellence awards. Her Pulitzer-winning work was published in The Best American Magazine Writing 2023.
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Meridith Kohut for The Atlantic A New Kind of Family-Separation Crisis
At the airport in La Lima, Honduras, planeloads of people arrive every day—many without their children.
Sofia Valiente for The Atlantic I Recognize the Look on Liam Ramos’s Face
The 5-year-old was briefly held at Dilley, where families are sent after ICE roundups.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Ali Daniels; Ilana Panich-Linsman / Redux. ‘America Doesn’t Want My Children or Grandchildren’
The Cruz family spent years building a life in New York. Then the risks of staying became too great.
Natalie Keyssar for The Atlantic How ICE Lost Its Guardrails
The Minneapolis shooting will get less official scrutiny because of cuts by the Trump administration.
Illustration by Ben Kothe / The Atlantic. Sources: Scott Olson / Getty; Chip Somodevilla / Getty; Jamie Kelter Davis / Getty; Adam Gray / AFP / Getty. Hundreds of Thousands of Anonymous Deportees
Amid the president’s fast-moving deportation campaign, the stories of most people being swept up are missed.
Miguel Martinez / Atlanta Journal-Constitution / AP ‘It’s Never Been This Bad’
Immigrant advocates face escalating consequences and threats from the president.
Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP / Getty ICE’s Mind-Bogglingly Massive Blank Check
Congress has appropriated billions with few strings attached, creating a likely windfall for well-connected firms.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Douglas Rissing / Getty. They Never Thought Trump Would Have Them Deported
The administration’s drive to carry out the largest campaign in history has ensnared people who didn’t see themselves as targets.
Illustration by Hokyoung Kim Lies About Immigration Help No One
When politicians are no longer punished by voters for repeating racist slander, it’s bad news for society.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: CSA Images / Getty.
