Dreamer Activism: Constructing a Path to Higher Education Attainment

• In Event: Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: Immigration, Policy, and Latina/o Students Across Learning Contexts

Abstract

While participation in immigration activism may be a helpful support structure to undocumented students’ attainment of higher education, there has been little research that has explicitly investigated the effects of participation in immigration activism on undocumented students in higher education. To fill this research gap, I conducted in-depth interviews with nine undocumented student-activists from the Washington, D.C. area and used a Grounded Theory approach and the development of profiles to analyze and present the data. Findings suggest that participation in immigration activism supports undocumented students’ acquisition of social capital and academic, political, civic, and social-emotional development. These findings have implications for both secondary and higher education professionals seeking to support undocumented students’ attainment of higher education.

Author

• Samantha Spinney, Synergy Enterprises, Inc.