Using narrative inquiry to collect data through interviews and an arts-based approach to present the findings through a narrative film screenplay format, this multimethod qualitative study aimed to expose the reality faced by undocumented students, especially those involved with activism, through tales of resilience and grit. The theories that…

To inform higher education and student affairs (HESA) professionals who work with college students outside of the classroom, we asked the research question: How do undocumented Latinx college students use aspirational capital to navigate higher education? Aspirational capital is the ability to maintain hopes and dreams for the future in the face…

Objective: To determine if, following threats to DACA policies, Dreamer college students experienced greater stress overload, more symptoms, and worse grades than their classmates. Participants: Students (n=424) from a large public university, including Dreamers (n=64), participated between March 2017 and June 2018. Methods: Students completed an…

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) policy has given unauthorized immigrants access to many opportunities, specifically education. While DACA has improved the lives of many undocumented immigrants, this group continues to face obstacles while pursuing their educational aspirations. Using semi-structured interviews, the current study…

This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of eight undocumented students who successfully studied abroad between 2012 and 2016. In-depth interviews of students at a public research university in California articulate the determination, resourcefulness, and unspoken fears that undocumented students carried with them throughout the…