MCALLEN – Many of the families who cross the border will end up passing through the respite center.

The recent influx of migrant families prompted a group of researchers to make a visit to learn about the trauma these families experience.

The group found the levels of trauma exceeded their charts.

An associate professor at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Alfonso Mercado, collaborated with a researcher from Sam Houston University to study migrant families.

“The numbers are striking comparable to the numbers that we see in research being conducted where the youth are in an actual war," explains Mercado. 

He says over 60 percent of the youth exceeded the cut-off score.

Aside from the negative effects, a positive trend emerged – the theme of resiliency.

KRGV’s Valerie Gonzalez has the details.

Watch the video above for the full story.