Psychology Today | 27.01.2026 02:02
When immigration enforcement enters a community, the damage never stops at legal boundaries. Families are ripped apart, communities are shattered, and trust erodes. What is not being widely discussed is what happens to the pets of detainees and the disrupted attachment that occurs. The human-animal bond is really not an abstract concept. It is built through mutual respect, love, and daily caretaking, which creates an emotional reliance. When ICE detains or deports a person without warning, that bond is severed abruptly, leaving severe and lasting consequences for both people and pets.
