Sanctuary Making focuses on the expansion of immigration enforcement and its consequences on young adults and their families. Drawing on 103 in-depth interviews with members of undocumented and mixed-status families, Sanctuary Making sheds light on young adults’ material and emotional labor in protecting their families. (In mixed-status families, at least one member is undocumented while another has some type of legal protection). This includes young adults’ efforts to identify a trustworthy immigration lawyer, attend Know Your Rights workshops, and prepare for the worst-case scenario: a loved one’s deportation. While these efforts are pragmatic—focused on protecting the family or coping with the aftermath of detention or deportation—Sanctuary Making reveals how young adults must also grapple with significant emotional weight.
For example, young adults preparing for the possibility of a loved one’s deportation are managing two parallel realities. On one level, they are making concrete plans based on pressing questions: How will we afford rent and other essentials? Who will care for younger siblings? Who will take on new responsibilities if a parent is detained? At the same time, they are grappling with deeper emotional questions that are harder to resolve: What does it mean to live with the constant possibility that my family could be separated indefinitely? How do I function day-to-day while carrying that fear?
This emotional layer becomes even more pronounced and complex when young adults attempt to use the limited pathways available to them. Consider the experience of Agustin whose story is featured here. For years, he looked forward to petitioning for his parents’ immigration status at the age of 21. (This is a key milestone shared by U.S. citizens in mixed-status families that is often framed as a moment of hope and agency.) Upon turning 21, Agustin met with an immigration lawyer expecting to finally petition for his parents’ adjustment of status. Instead, he learned that he could only petition for his mother because his father’s case was more complicated due to having an existing deportation history.
What follows in the case of Agustin and other young adults in similar situations is not just a legal obstacle, but an emotional rupture. The process introduces new and conflicting feelings: guilt over being able to help one parent but not the other; pressure to make a decision that could reshape family life; and uncertainty over whether to move forward at all. Some young adults may delay or abandon the process entirely, choosing not to proceed unless both parents can benefit, even when doing so means foregoing a viable opportunity. Indeed, Agustin made the difficult choice not to proceed with the process. In this way, legal complexity produces emotional consequences that directly shape young adults’ (and their families’) decision-making.
These experiences illustrate that young adults are not simply navigating legal systems; they are also navigating layered emotional terrains shaped by fear, responsibility, hope, and moral conflict. Thus, it is important for immigrant rights organizers and others to not only address the practical dimensions of enforcement and legal processes, but also the emotional realities that accompany them.
To this end, here are a few key recommendations to consider integrating into existing services and resources:
- Legal workshops paired with mental health support so people can process what they’re learning and what’s next
- Case accompaniment to reduce fear of attending appointments
- Family-centered legal consultations that include space to discuss emotional and relational impacts
- Resource guides that include legal steps and emotional considerations to highlight what individuals can expect legally and emotionally
- Emergency preparedness planning templates that include emotional prompts such as “What feels hardest about this choice?” or “What emotions is this choice bringing up?”
To learn more about the experiences of young adults in undocumented and mixed-status families, including how they are affected by and cope with the threat and reality of deportations, check out the book Sanctuary Making.
DON’T FORGET TO SHARE THIS PAGE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!
Don’t miss out on the latest resources available for undocumented students, make sure to “like” our page on Facebook and subscribe (it’s free)!
Are you interested in hosting an immigration presentation or workshop at your school or organization? Learn more about the range of speaking engagements we offer here.
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: Get involved, Mental health, Research
In Their Own Words: Reflections from Undocumented & Mixed-Status Students About the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections
Leave a Reply