Powerful Voices Emerging from the Shadows: The Academic Experiences of Latinx College Students in Mixed-Status Families

• In Event: Latinx Spaces, Identity, and Voices From Afar

Abstract

According to the Pew Research Center (2016), there are approximately 3.9 million children in the U.S. educational system who have at least one undocumented parent and about 725,000 undocumented children in the U.S. (Passel & Cohn, 2016). This study aims to explore the academic experiences of Latinx/a/o students in mixed-status families to find ways in which institutions can better support them on their pathway to achieving a higher education. Qualitative interviews will be utilized to center the voices of Latinx/a/o college students in mixed-status families. Preliminary findings suggest that U.S.-born children of undocumented parents are heavily impacted by their identity in a mixed-status family when considering their mental health, educational plans, and activist efforts, especially when pursuing a higher education.

Author

• Amy J. Nunez, Indiana University - Bloomington