The Emotional Well-being of Undocumented 1.5-Immigrants: Ontological Insecurity and Strategies for Resilience

• In Event: 386 - Section on International Migration Paper Session. Migration and Human Security in Global Perspective

Abstract

Using data from 35 in-depth interviews with undocumented 1.5-immigrant generation in Florida, this research argues that undocumented legal status results in a range of emotional challenges that fall upon youth and young adults as they transition to adulthood in the U.S. The emotions they must contend with range from frustration, to sadness and depression, to feelings of insecurity about their future and their well-being resulting in ontological insecurity. These young immigrants find positive ways to cope with their emotions, among them becoming involved in advocacy organizations and peer groups that provide them with the benefits of social networking and social capital. Most important is that these settings also provide them with a safe space to which they can belong. While young immigrants engage in many other positive coping strategies, some do struggle to maintain positive sense of well-being exacerbated by their ontological insecurity and turn to coping mechanisms that hurt them in the short and long term. We conclude with a discussion of the conditions under which the emotional well-being of undocumented immigrant youth and young adults can be attained and factors that can contribute to greater resilience in this population.

Authors

• Elizabeth Vaquera, University of South Florida

• Isabel Sousa-Rodriguez, Graduate Center – City University of New York

• Elizabeth M. Aranda, University of South Florida