Undocumented youth in the United States

Undocumented youth live within the United States without legal citizenship status. Brought by their parents, undocumented youth enter the United States illegally. An estimated 1.1 million undocumented minors resided in the U.S. as of 2010. Undocumented youth make up sixteen percent of the undocumented population as a whole.^[1]

As children, youth are granted access to public K-12 education and benefits regardless of citizenship status. After navigating through primary education, undocumented youth transition into an adulthood that does not grant them those provisions. Without need to prove their legality within the country until they come of age, undocumented youth can live their childhood years without knowing that they do not have a legal status. Undocumented youth experience a period of adapting to a new identity ("illegal") that is stigmatized and unexpected. Coming of age, undocumented youth become negatively distinguished from their peers without the ability to legally work, obtain a driver's license, or participate in secondary education. These limitations with regards to citizenship provide obstacles to the youth's civic engagement. The social and identity process of transitioning into adulthood for undocumented youth has been described by Roberto Gonzales as learning to be illegal.^[2]

Education access

Public schooling allows undocumented youth to assimilate into society.^[2] Graduation for these youth serves as a traumatic change in status and identity from student to "illegal alien" and "illegal worker." This "state of shock" causes depressed motivation and financial anxiety causing youth to drop out of high school. 40 percent of undocumented adults ages 18–24 do not complete high school. Of those that complete high school, only 49 percent attend college. Many youths reported a feeling of falling through the cracks, instances where they were not able to get assistance from their educational institutions.^[2] The inability to receive federal and state student financial aid, as well as low family incomes, limits access for undocumented youth to attend post secondary schooling.^[3] In 2006, Hispanic youth had the lowest educational attainment out of any ethnic or racial group.^[4] Parents can often not provide financial assistance and immigrant youths carry financial burden within their households.^[2]

Access to a college education can help improve the status of undocumented youth. Graduating college allows youth to improve labor market skills and makes them eligible for jobs where employers might potentially sponsor a temporary legal visa. A college education also increases youth marriageability increasing the chances for youth to marry a legal citizen and obtain legal status through familial relationship. ^[4] The majority of undocumented children are growing up with legal access to public education but face legal barriers to higher education (Abrego, 2006). Abrego interviewed a girl named Alisa who came to the United States at the age of five from Guatemala; she encountered the difficulties of higher education. She was a student who excelled academically in high school and was admitted to the University of California. Alisa became disheartened due to her status and was unable to be given financial aid. Some researchers explain that undocumented children face an economic barrier when pursuing a higher education and find that because of this they are unable to attend a University (Abrego; Shields and Behrman, 2004; Gonzales, 2011; Crosnoe and Turley, 2011). Due to this, The Dream Act was proposed to the Senate and the House of Representatives and was only 13 states that include California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin passed their state laws. These states allow undocumented children to pay in-state tuition based on their attendance and graduation from a state high school (Schmid 2013).

Employment and transitions into adulthood

Youth brought to the United States as adolescents are at greater risk for adjustment difficulties. Many undergo acculturated distress; poor mental health, depression, anxiety, a feeling of alienation, and identity confusion.^[5] Markers in the transition into adulthood, such as finding work, applying for college, and obtaining a driver's license, all require legal status to obtain. Youth undergo three transition periods as they enter into adulthood; discovery, learning to be illegal, and coping. The first, discovery (ages 16–18) is the time where youth first discover that they are illegal. Within this period, key transitional markers such as obtaining a driver's license and applying for college are experienced. These markers often become the first time many youth learn that they are undocumented. The second period, learning to be illegal (ages 18–24) is a series of life alterations in which youth learn to live as an undocumented immigrant. This includes finding work as an undocumented immigrant and postponing secondary education. The third, coping (ages 25–29) is adjusting to lower expectations and realizing the true limits of their rights. This leads many youth to follow into the same job pool as their undocumented parents.^[2]

This gap still exists between higher education and financial aid for undocumented students. Since undocumented students are not eligible for most forms of financial aid, merit scholarships are not feasible as they are most often restrict their eligibility to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Undocumented students are not eligible for federal aid, thus, benefits that come from FAFSA or Pell Grants do not apply to these students. Most state-based aid is also out of reach for undocumented students so grants, work study and loans are not options.^[6] States opt to pass their own legislation allowing in-state tuition for undocumented students; while this is an important step for undocumented students, it does not fully bridge the gap for financial aid. Some states, like Georgia, have worked against education for undocumented students by forbidding enrollment in some colleges (Perez 2). Statistics show $11.8 billion in taxes each year comes from undocumented immigrants (Tax Contributions). Findings also show that there would be an $845 million in tax revenue with the Obama Administration’s executive action that includes the implementation of DACA and its expansion. These findings also show that a full immigration reform would increase tax revenue by $2.2 billion (Tax Contributions). Giving these groups the availability for higher education aid would only increase these benefits through their consumption and investment in the economy. (Athanasiou 3)

Youth activism

Students protesting on behalf of the DREAM Act in Senator John McCain's office, May 2010

In recent years, undocumented youth have gathered to lobby for legislative action. Organizations such as the Education Not Deportation (END) Our Pain Organization have been established to demand moratorium for youth eligible for the Development, Relief, Education for Alien Minors (DREAM Act) Act which would grant conditional legal status to those brought here under the age of 16 if they attend college or join the military. Throughout 2009 and 2010, a number of sit-ins, hunger strikes, marches, and social media campaigns were conducted by many activist organizations. United We Dream organized 500 youth to participate in a National DREAM Act graduation in Washington combined with 15 more ceremonies nationwide.^[7] Between September and December 2010 pro-immigrant groups generated over 840,000 call, faces, and emails in favor of the DREAM Act, as well as 81,000 petitions delivered to targeted Senate offices.^[8] Youth activist often invoke a feeling of coming out, relating to the same action experienced by the LGBTQ community, to protest for protection of their rights despite threats of arrest, imprisonment, and deportation.^[9]

Obtaining a driver's license

In recent years, several states have passed bills to allow undocumented immigrants the opportunity to obtain a driver's license. Proponents of issuing driver's licenses to undocumented argue that this can generate more revenue through taxes, increasing the number of people who have auto insurance and providing a form of official documentation for law officers, increasing public safety.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

On June 15, 2012, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the executive decision to defer immigration enforcement for undocumented youth who meet specific requirements.
DHS Guidelines for Deferred Action:^[10]

• Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
• Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;
• Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
• Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
• Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012;
• Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and
• Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

Applicants who meet the guidelines are granted a two-year reprieve and are granted work authorization.^[11] An estimated 1.8 million undocumented youth are eligible for deferred action.^[11] As of August 2013, 557,000 immigrants applied for deferred action and 400,562 have been approved.^[12] In reaction to the executive order, some states such as Arizona and Nebraska announced that they would not prescribe state benefits such as granting driver's licenses to recipients. The majority of states announced that they would grant driver's licenses to recipients along with Michigan and Iowa who reversed their decisions to deny state benefits.^[13] Without permanent residence, youth granted deferred action still cannot receive federal financial aid. Access to secondary education is still limited, but youth who are granted the ability to work have the potential for increased wages and the ability to pay tuition costs.

See also

• Undocumented students in the United States

References

14. ^Perez, Zenen. "Removing Barriers to Higher Education for Undocumented Students." Scribd. Center for American Progress, 1 Dec. 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://www.scribd.com/doc/246479454/Removing-Barriers-to-Higher-Education-for-Undocumented-Students>.

15. ^"Undocumented Immigrants' State and Local Tax Contributions." The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), 16 Apr. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://www.itep.org/immigration/>.

16. ^Athanasiou, Joy. "Basic Facts About Undocumented Students." Together Colorado. Higher Education Access Alliance, 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://www.togethercolorado.org/documents/BasicFactsAboutUndocumentedStudents.pdf>.

17. ^"Fact Sheet: An Overview of College-Bound Undocumented Students."Educators for Fair Consideration. Educators for Fair Consideration, 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://www.e4fc.org/images/Fact_Sheet.pdf>.