Becoming the “Mystical Unicorn”: Understanding the Racialized Illegality Experiences of Undocumented Asian College Students in California

• In Event: 30420 - Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 11: Race and Higher Education

Abstract

As the fastest-growing undocumented population in the U.S., undocumented Asians (undocuAsians) challenge traditional racial and immigration categories, complicating the “model minority” myth while simultaneously enduring the vulnerabilities of undocumented status. At the nexus of race, immigration, and higher education, this study centers lesser-known undocumented Asian (undocuAsian) young adults’ experiences, particularly how they negotiate double-edged sociocultural positioning as model minorities experiencing immigrant illegality during their coming of age. Drawing from 100 in-depth interviews with 66 undocuAsian students and a year-long ethnography at both a University of California and a California Community College, this study provides a comprehensive theoretical and practical framework for understanding this vulnerable student population. This study uncovers the ways in which dominant ideologies surrounding race, immigration, and citizenship are reproduced through interactions between undocumented students and college administrators, who may adopt, challenge, or transgress the racialized meaning of belonging. It also offers insights for higher education institutions, policymakers, and researchers to reimagine how to combat the pernicious effects of immigration policies and racism, while fostering inclusivity and supporting the college success of immigrant students in the U.S.

Author

• Siyue Lena Wang, University of California, Los Angeles