Understanding Latina/o Undocumented Parents’ Engagement in Students’ College Readiness: A Literature Review

• In Event: Family Engagement in Secondary and Postsecondary Schools

Abstract

Immigrant parents set the foundation for students’ higher education aspirations and achievement through moral, emotional, and logistical support (Auerbach, 2006). Yet, research often conflates the experiences of undocumented parents with those of parents in first-generation immigrant families. Undocumented status not only limits access to resources, but also adds a layer of distrust, discomfort, and fear of social institutions (Yoshikawa, 2011). This critical literature review explores how undocumented parents engage with their children’s higher education goals and aspirations. Putting in conversation scholarly literature on family engagement, undocumented immigrant life, and undocumented undergraduate experiences, I find that we still do not have much of an understanding on the specific impact undocumented status has on parents’ engagement in their children’s access to college.

Author

• Stephany Cuevas, Harvard University