Persistence for Whom? Educational Trajectories of Undocumented South Korean and Mexican College Students in New York City

• In Event: 2384 - Section on International Migration Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 03. DACA and Undocumented Youth

Abstract

Despite the diversity of undocumented immigrants in the United States, much of the discourse surrounding this population focuses on groups that have roots in Latin America, particularly Mexico. This framing is problematic as it affects the degree to which social policies, institutions, and community organizations respond to the needs and experiences of undocumented individuals from various backgrounds. This paper examines the educational pathways of undocumented students at the City University of New York and focuses on the differences between Mexican- and South Korean-origin individuals. South Korean students enter post-secondary education with stronger high school academic records (e.g., higher GPA, greater number of college-prep courses) than their Mexican-origin peers; this disparity in academic performance continues throughout post-secondary education. It would be expected that these high-achieving South Korean students aspire to enter the US labor force and obtain professional occupations using their credentials. However, data from the Migration Policy Institute on rates of DACA applications show that South Koreans apply and receive DACA at a much lower rate (~20%) than Mexican students (~80%), indicating that undocumented South Koreans may be less likely than Mexicans to enter the formal economy upon completion of their academic careers. Explanations for this disparity will be discussed in terms of the differences with which Mexican and South Korean community organizations mobilize undocumented individuals.

Author

• Jennifer Catherine Sloan, City University of New York-The Graduate Center