Graphic created by Eva as featured for UndocuBasic Needs Project
As we approach the 2024 U.S. presidential elections, it is important to understand the experiences of undocumented students and their families, including students who come from mixed-status households where at least one member is undocumented. This post features students’ reflections around the elections and uncertainty surrounding DACA based on the UndocuBasic Needs project, which seeks to help address immigrant college students’ basic needs.
Fear of deportation
When asked about the threat of deportation that students and their families must contend with, Clara*, an 18-year-old U.S.-citizen with undocumented parents, explained that it is “[…] scary. And it could be surprising in a way, because you don’t realize that everything can essentially be taken away from you. And, you know, right now we’re safe and everything. But what happens when a new person gets elected? What are they going to do? So it’s just the constant, the constant fear of not knowing what’s gonna happen next? Are things gonna get better? Are things gonna get worse? And that’s how I would describe it.” These fears and concerns are shared among undocumented and mixed-status students alike, and are particularly heightened during election season.
Missed opportunities and uncertainty
Many students are also grappling with the uncertainty surrounding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Among students who were unable to benefit from it because USCIS stopped processing initial requests for DACA in the Fall of 2017, they were also contending with missed opportunities. Maribel, a 19-year-old who is undocumented, for example, explained that they had several friends who were able to benefit from DACA and as a result, they were “able to get a job, get like internships, like it doesn’t matter for them is [and it’s] like dang, like, I wish I was them, I wish I would have gotten a chance to do that. And I wouldn’t be struggling as much as I am right now.” The uncertainty surrounding DACA is particularly acute at this time and many students are concerned about their futures, including their ability to achieve their dreams and goals.
Coping in different ways
To cope, some students relied on distraction so as not to let the fear and worry overwhelm them. Others tried their best to reassure themselves that no matter what the election results would be, it would be ok. Some students like Abigail (a 20-year-old U.S.-citizen whose parents are undocumented) did their best to remain hopeful noting that, “[…] the elections coming up right now, we feel like, we have like a lot of hope that like things will continue to get better and stuff.” Others actively sought support from family, friends, or trained mental health professionals like a therapist or a counselor.
Resources for undocumented students and school personnel
I feel like undocumented students have very specific challenges that they are not recognized or acknowledged at all by lots of universities, especially private universities. So making sure that’s essential is very important, especially with the upcoming political election. I think that support should be stronger than ever, especially because immigration is one of the main topics that come up during election season. — Elizabeth, a 21-year old who is undocumented
For information on helpful resources to navigate this time of heightened fear and uncertainty, check out our previous posts:
“Election Night Prep: Resources for Undocumented Students“. With the 2024 U.S. presidential election fast approaching, we wanted to share a set of affirmations and resources for undocumented students grappling with this highly uncertain and challenging period. This post is particularly focused on undocumented students’ mental health, including a set of helpful affirmation, information about identifying resources, and recommendations for school personnel who are interested in expanding their understanding of undocumented students’ mental health concerns.
“Supporting Undocumented Students During Uncertain Times” Undocumented students are presently contending with heightened levels of uncertainty in light of the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential elections. This is in addition to grappling with the ongoing instability of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) federal program which has been in limbo since the Trump administration threatened to terminate the program in 2017. This post is geared towards offering a set of recommendations that educators, counselors, and administrators can adopt to better support undocumented students during these uncertain times.
“Important Pre-Election Reminders & Resources Surrounding DACA” Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a federal program that was first implemented in 2012 under the Obama administration. DACA provides eligible undocumented young adults with access to temporary relief from deportation and work authorization. With DACA, many undocumented young adults have been able to secure employment, pursue their higher education goals, obtain a driver’s license, and more. This post features a helpful overview of resources related to DACA, including information on the current status of DACA, advice around renewals, and finding support.
To learn more about the UndocuBasic Needs project, check out the main project website, including this research report which can be accessed and downloaded for free.
*All names featured on this post are pseudonyms to protect individuals’ privacy.
At My Undocumented Life we provide up-to-date information and resources for undocumented immigrants and allies. We post scholarship opportunities that are open to undocumented students, strategies for navigating the educational system, information on how to apply for DACA/Advance Parole, news on DAPA, and much more. Most importantly, we want to provide a sense of community to our diverse group of readers. Learn more about our work here: “About Us“
Share this:
Categories: Educators/Counselors, Get involved, Mental health, Research
Leave a Reply