Personal Narrative Of Illegal Immigrants In High School

The reality that immigration policies and registration requirements create for undocumented students is a grim one; despite their scholarly capability, thousands upon thousands of undocumented students who have completed high school do not continue on with their education because of the lack of legal paperwork (DREAM Act). This has been the story line for countless undocumented valedictorians, like Grecia Cantu, who’s dream of going to Baylor University to become a teacher was plucked by a simple mandate of Congress (Smith). Despite having a presidential scholarship to Baylor University, Grecia’s future is hampered by her illegal status in the country and the inactivity of the DREAM Act in congress, which is due largely to its brisk opponents. Critics of the legislation falsely advocate that it grants preferential treatment to undocumented students (Malkin 1). In reality, the DREAM Act only grants qualifying individuals with a temporary residency, a driver’s license, and a work permit (Giving the Fact). This allows the students who meet the criteria the same tuition rates as natural-born citizens and a legal way to work and drive in the country. Another resounding critic among the opponents of the bill includes the common misconception that the DREAM Act will provide amnesty and forgive the federal offense immigrants committed when they entered the country illegally (Smith). In truth, only immigrants who entered the country during their youth, before age 16, are eligible for the benefits of the legislation. Once they apply, they will have to fulfill the requirements of completing a 2-year college or serve a 2-year term in the armed forces to finally receive resident status, not citizenship, after 6 years of proved residency (Creating Opportunities). If Congress allowed this legislation to

In his study, Gonzales sets his attention on two groups of undocumented youths: the early exiters and the college-goers. Both groups are similar in many ways; however, one group receives positive reinforcement from liable people more than the other group. Gonzales’s purpose in writing this book is to inform the reader the struggles of being an undocumented minor and/or

Imagine that you are a senior in high school. You are nervous and excited to start the process of getting a job and attending college. You obtain a couple of job applications and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to fill out. Naturally, as you fill out these forms you ask your parents for your social security number, however, this is the moment you find out that you are undocumented. Shocked and in disbelief, you can’t help to see all your hopes and dreams go down the drain. Nevertheless, like many other undocumented students, you discover there is still hope for your situation. For instance, your research leads you to former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects minors who were brought to this country illegally as children. Created through executive action in June of 2012, DACA gives young undocumented immigrants: protection from deportation and a work permit. Subsequently, on September 5th, 2017, the Trump administration rescinds the DACA policy, and approximately 800,000 young immigrants will become eligible for deportation at the end of six months. Therefore, the only way to update our immigration system is for Congress to pass immigration reform, which offers a pathway to citizenship, plus, acknowledge that the 14th Amendment applies to homosexual conduct and illegal aliens.

If we talk about undocumented immigrants in United States, we usually focus on the benefits and jobs they take from our country, but have we ever stood in their shoes and imagine what life is like for an illegal immigrant? To live as an undocumented immigrant is a bad situation, but I believe to be a child of an undocumented immigrant is even worse, because their choices are limited and they are unaware of their rights to attend colleges. In this research, I will focus on undocumented immigrant students, who are unable to afford for higher education, and the fear of their unknown future which is mainly cause by their undocumented status. The largest invisible group in America, to explore “what are the struggles and unsolved problems of

Every year thousands of undocumented students graduate from high school with uncertainty about a post-secondary education. Many of these students do not have the financial means, and are often too scared about their legal status to continue their education. This issue is extremely prevalent in the state of California, hosting 2.6 million “alien residents”, it has the largest population of undocumented immigrants (Gonzales, 2006). Immigration policies have been controversial topics in the United States for a long time. Although there is still an ongoing debate about reforming the current immigration laws, there has been progress in making post-secondary education a possibility for undocumented students. This paper will focus

Imagine a world with an educated youth. Now imagine a parallel world where children are fighting to keep a smile on their faces, because, in truth, it is the only thing they have. In reality, this is what is happening. Youth, who have the privilege to be American citizens, are granted a very fulfilling education with a promise of a career. Children of illegal and undocumented immigrants do not have such luck. Some undocumented children in America have very promising futures and even a degree under their belts, but they cannot apply for a job because they have no proof of citizenship. A controversial topic is the matter of the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education, for Alien Minors) which permits undocumented immigrants to obtain

Americans believe that illegal immigrants are freeloaders they come to the United States to use our Social Services. Let’s define Social Services, “organized welfare efforts carried on under professional auspices by trained personnel (dictionary.com, 2011, para.1).” Examples of Social Services are Housing which is Government subsidized and public housing, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid and Medicare, and Social Security Payments for the elderly, disabled, qualifying children of the deceased, etc. Illegal immigrants do not qualify for these social services, because they do not have a social security number. Illegal immigrants contribute to the economy of

Imagine yourself being a child of an undocumented immigrant, how would you feel if you watch the Television every day, and all you see is people been deported to their countries of origin because of their illegal status? Immigration has become one of the hottest topics that everyone is talking about, to specify, undocumented immigrants has suddenly become the target towards improving the nation’s economy. However, the damage that are resulting as we impound the fear of deportation on these undocumented immigrants are been neglected. Over 11 million undocumented immigrants resides in the US, formed families and have U.S born children (Suro and Suarez-Orozco). Today, among 15 children, there is one U.S born citizen with an undocumented parent (Suro and Suarez-Orozco). These children are nurtured by illegal parents who goes through emotional distress everyday due to the difficulties they face as they watch politicians calling out on

In the article “Coming Out Illegal” by Maggie Jones is about Leslie who is undocumented student that has some limitations going to college. She is History major in California their was law that was called AB 540 that was pass for all undocumented students to pay in-state rather than out-state tuition; California is one of 11 states with such law. Leslie is immigrant who came to Unites State when she was six year old. All her life she had to hide that she was immigrant. She wasn’t able to tell her close friends. She knew that she wouldn’t be able to visit her family in Mexico, voting, and also never able to have driver’s license. When she was senior in high school; she thought

Secondary education is a highly debated subject. Many critics of secondary education say that inner-city high schools and students are not receiving the same attention as students from non inner-city high schools. Two of the biggest concerns are the lack of school funding that inner-city high schools are receive and the low success rate in sending inner-city high schools graduates to college. Critics say that while inner-city high schools struggle to pay its teachers and educate its student’s non inner-city high schools don’t have to deal with the lack of school funding. Also students from non inner-city high school are not being given the opportunity to attend colleges once the

At McKinney Boyd High School’s graduation ceremony in Texas, a student named Larissa Martinez did not give a regular speech. She told everyone there that she was an undocumented immigrant. Larissa was not the only one who stood up there to say that she was undocumented. In fact, there were two students that announced that they were undocumented immigrants. When Larissa said what her status was, there was a huge standing ovation for her. It was not easy for her to stand up there and give that speech. She had a lot of courage to go up there to reveal a secret of a lifetime. After someone else from another school heard about it, he made a post on Twitter and there were comments that were either supporting her or attacking her. Larissa described what it has been like in her life to be

I’m an immigrant. I was born in Mexico and it was only until my parents decided to come to the United States that I am where I am. My mother tried to cross the border to come to the United States for the first time when I was still in her womb all by herself as my father was already in the Unites States working in order to provide for her in the way that he wasn’t able to do so by staying in Mexico. My mother was caught by immigration and was sent back. My mother was very disappointed because she knew that if she didn’t get me to the United States some way or another I wouldn’t get very far in life by staying in Mexico. My father returned back to Mexico when I was born and it wasn’t until I was 4 years old that they decided to try to cross the border once again. Although I was only 4 years old I remember the whole experience as if it was yesterday. The amount of fear of getting caught by immigration and having done everything for nothing was always in the back of my mind while going through the whole experience. Up to this day nothing has ever been as terrifying and nerve-wrecking as having to go through that whole experience especially for a 4 year old child but I will forever be grateful for the bravery and strength that my parents had to gather in

One of the main the themes in Learning to Be Illegal is how an undocumented immigrant’s relationship with teachers, counselors or other adults could greatly affect one’s motivation to succeed, as well as their educational attainment. The author supports this argument by citing statistics and using interviews. Gonzales uses a young woman named Marisol as an example. “When Marisol began to exhibit decreasing levels of motivation, for instance, her English teacher was there to intervene”. Ultimately because of this relationship, she was able to attend community college

American high schools produce thousands of graduates annually. According to Heckman, nearly 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school each year in the United States (as cited in Oliverez, Chavez, Soriano, & Tierney, 2006). Between 5% and 10% of all undocumented students who graduate from high school attend college (as cited in Gonzales, 2007; National Immigration Law Center, 2009). The U.S. Department of Education (2015) reports that undocumented students are those who are defined as not being U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or even eligible noncitizens. Further, some are also referred to as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students. Eusebio and Mendoza (n.d.), note that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a federal policy directive established on June 15, 2012, which has created new opportunities for approximately 1.9 million undocumented youth who arrived in the U.S. before the age of 16, have lived in the U.S. continuously for at least five years, and have graduated from high school or obtained a GED. It does not, however, provide access to federal or state-based financial aid. The lack of access to financial aid has created an enormous barrier for undocumented Latino students who wish to continue their education in postsecondary institutions

In each individual classroom, every student is different; they all have different backgrounds, cultures and traditions, different educational needs, abilities and talents, and overall different identities. In Leigh Patel’s book, Youth Held at the Border: Immigration, Education and the Politics of Inclusion, she evaluates how immigration and citizenship, two important identity markers, impact education, specifically, the practices of teachers and the experiences of students in schools. Patel’s research was conducted at a school called Franklin High School, which was exclusive to immigrant students, documented and undocumented, and she follows the stories of several students who shed light on immigration’s impact on education and identity. Beyond sharing anecdotes, she examines the systems that are in place to hold immigrant youth “at the border” beyond the physical borders between nations.