Undocuscholar Coalition Reflection

Approximately 200,000 to 225,000 undocumented immigrants enroll in American institutions of higher education and represent 2 percent of all students in college (Suarez-Orozco, Katsiaficas, Birchall, Alcantar, & Hernandez, 2015). Undocumented students have low rates of enrollment to programs of higher education in comparison to documented students. When undocumented students begin college, they go through struggles to adapt and assimilate to college life. As a result of feeling disconnected to the campus they attend, undocumented students may look for different options for support, such as clubs and centers offered for students. In recent years, there have been legal changes set in place to support the success of undocumented students enrolled in higher education, which include in state tuition, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities. These changes have given undocumented students more choices and access to

When I was in high school, I witnessed first had the lack of attention and help undocumented students were given when it came to receiving help with the college application process. My junior and senior year, I dedicated most of my free time to helping my classmates who were undocumented. I would assist them in their search for scholarship as well as looking over their applications and college essays.

In “Undocumented students’ Access to College: The American Dream Denied,” Chavez, Soriano and Olivia (2007) have stated that millions of students who live in United States are undocumented immigrants; most of them come to U.S at a very young age. They completed their high school and achieved great academic success, some of them even got admitted by well know universities. From 2002 onwards , Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540) , authorized by the late Marco Antonio Firebaugh , allows any student who has completed three years high school, and received a high school diploma or equivalent in California, regardless of their immigration status, are legally allowed to attend colleges and universities (Chavez,Soriano and Oliverez 256).Even though they are eligible to apply and be admitted to universities, but they are not eligible to apply for federal financial aid, without the help of financial aid, it is extremely difficult for them to afford tuition. In this case, it severely limits undocumented student’s chances for upward mobility.

Tales of Survival 101 for Undocumented Latina/o Immigrant University Students: Commentary and Recommendations From Qualitative Interviews

Undocumented students have a harder time trying to pursue a higher education; this is due to the fact that they cannot receive federal aid. College is like a safe haven for these undocumented students. Higher education gives undocumented students the opportunity to better themselves as individuals. Higher education also allows undocumented students to pursue a better life for themselves and for their family. Every year over 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school in the United States (Gray). Experts estimate that fewer than 6,500 of those undocumented students actually go on to attend college (Sheehy). One reason for why the amount is so low is because college is expensive for these undocumented students. Undocumented students are unable to achieve any of these goals, that is, unless they receive federal aid. It is sad to see undocumented students give up on their dream to attend college and get a higher education.

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

Undocumented students are becoming a growing outrage in the United States. It has been a constant battle amongst the students, the schools, and the Government. According to collegeboard.com, statistics shows that 65,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools each year (collegeboard.com).After graduating high school they face legal and financial barriers to higher education. This paper will address the importance of this growing outrage and discuss the following that corresponds to it.

When I was in elementary, I was taught that Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas, and he was painted as a great explorer. It was not until my sophomore year of high school when I took Chicano Studies from Los Angeles City College, that I realised that the picture I had was not complete. The Chicano Studies class opened my eyes to see how sugar coated the history I learned growing up. Learning how marginalized group’s story is not told, made me want to get involved with those who do not have a voice. I had been involved in our local community clinic at the encouragement of my parents, but it was not until I took the class that I realized how important the work really was. Recently my immigration Health Care committee teamed up with other

Cervantes, J. M., Minero, L. P., & Brito, E. (2015). Tales of survival 101 for undocumented Latina/o immigrant university students: Commentary and recommendations from qualitative interviews. Journal Of Latina/O Psychology, 3(4), 224-238. doi:10.1037/lat0000032

I am grateful for the opportunity to be allowed to address joint meeting in this country that I personally call my home. This country is the land where people can be free and pursue their dreams that can not be done in any other country. As the United States Congress the whole body of this organization is to be able to defend the lives and rights of the people. This country is the home of the people that keep this country running, and part of those people is the Latino community. The Latino community now make up 1 out 4 school students in the United States and are a rapidly growing population in nontraditional settlement areas (Gandara 2017). But as the Latino community keeps growing the youth is not getting enough help to continue into higher

There are many reasons why art exist, and why people continue to make it. Art can bring joy and hope to a group of people, but it can also dehumanize the same group. This all depends on who creates the art and the motivation behind the creation. Throughout the history of the United States, in regard to race, we see how art has done and does both. According to Paul Von Blum (2012), historical “depictions of Black women, men, and children were highly stereotypical and demeaning.” These negative visual representations of black individuals were set to devalue their existence. They perpetuated “visions of African Americans as lazy, irresponsible,

On June 15, 2012, President Barack Obama passed an executive order, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), that helped to make it more possible for undocumented students to attend college. DACA’s passing has left administration at colleges and universities with differing approaches on how to support, or not, undocumented students attending their institution. However, there are still holes in the support for undocumented students in pursuing higher education. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief overview of the undocumented student experience, discuss how it relates to Mount Holyoke College, offer viewpoints from the student and dean perspectives, and provide analysis of how the director of multicultural initiatives can support

To date, only six states (California, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, and Washington) provide undocumented student with monetary assistance (NCSL). While under “title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965” undocumented students are currently forbidden to use federal monies to fund their postsecondary education (Drachman, 2006:91). When considering that most undocumented students come from poor families, and that their situation is comparable to that of low-income, first generation college students, who often cannot afford to pay educational fees (Kaushal, 2008; Diaz-Strong,

While the undocumented students are now being welcomed into our public school system, how difficult will the transition from undocumented child to undocumented adult? Research shows that almost one third of the immigration population in America is undocumented (Gonzales, 2009). Every year over 60,000 undocumented students graduate from the United States public school system. This is where a major problem arises. Post -secondary education is almost unattainable for these students. The inability to legally work or obtain financial assistance for school in most states makes higher education unattainable Policy makers against allowing college admission to these students believe the post-secondary education system will be overwhelmed. Those pro higher education for the undocumented suggest that denying the students an education could potentially hurt the economy. Also it denies the workforce access to skilled and professional workers. This major road block has been a topic for discussion among researchers and policy makers for quite some time. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act allows the states discretion to allow or restrict undocumented student’s admission to post-secondary

There are a lot of people who have the grant of being free but are not because of unrelenting groups who feed of people's fears. A place where exploited groups have nothing to lose yet everything to lose. People have become so accustomed to hate and ruthless stereotypes that they cannot distinguish right from wrong. I agree with Orwell’s quotation on the novel 1984, not only because it is perceptibly seen throughout America but because I myself have being oppressed. I originated from a family who came to land of opportunity with nothing yet gave me everything. As an undocumented student that was raised in a family with financial struggles I have learned how to cope with shame and disappointment. Grade after grade of undocumented students continue to suffer. Just like other undocumented students, I had to hurdle arbitrary bureaucratic barriers, barriers that reproduce xenophobic hostilities and serve no purpose other than exclusion. When students assert they will become writers, policemen, surgeons, and lawyers when they grow up, the dreams and aspirations of undocumented students like me are often annihilated by systemic oppression and the gatekeepers who enforce it. We are unaware of the wrongfulness that is being done and so we learn how to cope with oppression. That is why they are oppressed, that is why there is oppression, and that is why we are heading towards a depressive