Becoming the “Mystical Unicorn”: Understanding the Racialized Illegality Experiences of Undocumented Asian College Students in California (Stage 3, 12:17 PM)

• In Event: Promising Scholarship in Education Research Ed-Talk (Stage 3)

Abstract

As the fastest-growing undocumented population in the United States, undocumented Asians occupy a precarious position that destabilizes conventional racial and immigration frameworks. They navigate both the "model minority" myth—which presumes Asian American success while obscuring structural barriers—and the profound vulnerabilities of undocumented status. My research examines how race and immigration status intersect to shape college opportunities, investigating how institutions confront or reproduce the marginalization of immigrant students. Drawing on 126 in-depth interviews with 79 undocuAsian students and year-long ethnographic research at a University of California campus and a California Community College, this study offers insights for higher education institutions, policymakers, and researchers to combat the effects of immigration policy and racism while fostering inclusive environments that support immigrant students' college success.

Author

• Siyue Lena Wang, University of California - Los Angeles