St. John Fisher College Fisher Digital Publications Education Doctoral Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education 12-2019 The Era of Trump: How Jamaican DACA Recipients are Coping with the 2017 DACA Policy Change Rachele M. Hall St. John Fisher College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/education_etd Part of the Education Commons How has open access to Fisher Digital Publications benefited ou?y Recommended Citation Hall, Rachele M., "The Era of Trump: How Jamaican DACA Recipients are Coping with the 2017 DACA Policy Change" (2019). Education Doctoral. Paper 426. Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations. This document is posted at https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/education_etd/426 and is brought to you for free and open access by Fisher Digital Publications at St. John Fisher College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Era of Trump: How Jamaican DACA Recipients are Coping with the 2017 DACA Policy Change Abstract The topic of undocumented immigrants living in the United States stimulates consistent national and local debate. In 2012 President Barack Obama signed an executive order creating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy which provided undocumented immigrants work authorization and reprieve from deportation. In 2017, newly elected President Donald J. Trump announced the removal of the DACA policy. Researchers have focused on the impact of the removal of the DACA policy on undocumented Latino/a immigrants, but limited to no research has focused on the impact for Black immigrants, specifically those identifying as Jamaican. The purpose of this study was ot inquire what coping strategies Jamaican DACA recipients are using as they transition with the 2017 DACA policy change. The study employed qualitative methodology, in particular, a narrative inquiry approach. The study found that since the DACA policy change announcement, participants are transitioning from feeling fortunate to experiencing fear of deportation. Participants also indicated without the benefit of the AD CA policy, they lack sense of control in their lives. The study also showed participants have a strong support network to help them cope with the DACA policy change, but participants use religion as their primary coping strategy. The participants suggested the best coping strategy for their peers is to find a trusted individual to share their story. The lived experiences of undocumented Jamaican immigrants was similar to the research studies focused that on Latino/a undocumented immigrants. Document Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Education (EdD) Department Executive Leadership First Supervisor Shelley Jallow Second Supervisor Marguerita Circello Subject Categories Education This dissertation is available at Fisher Digital Publications: https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/education_etd/426 The Era of Trump: How Jamaican DACA Recipients are Coping with the 2017 DACA Policy Change By Rachele M. Hall Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Ed.D. in Executive Leadership Supervised by Dr. Shelley Jallow Committee Member Dr. Marguerita Circello Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education St. John Fisher College December 2019 Copyright by Rachele Hall 2019 Dedication The Bible says but the Lord stood with me and gave me strength. I would not be standing today if it was not for the strength of my God. I am blessed beyond measure and I dedicate this study to my God first and foremost. I also dedicate this to my parents. Lisa, Michael, and Tammy; you have individually impacted my life more than you could have ever imagined. You laid the groundwork for my integrity and authenticity. I pray that I can continue to make you proud on the ground and in heaven. I dedicate this to my siblings for you are the reason my life shines so bright. Thank you for the support, understanding, laughs, and hugs. I dedicate this to my mentor, brunch love crew, sticky mess crew, Westchester girls, the Davis’s, Dr. J and Professor Dr. Blount, cohort 9, Dr. Jallow, Dr. Circello and BOOM for being the most influential, dedicated, and thoughtful people in my life. You never let me quit. You lifted me in prayer and showered me with love. Thank you. iii Biographical Sketch Rachele Hall is currently the Associate Director for Community Building and Co- Curricular Programs at Westchester Community College. Ms. Hall attended the State University of New York College at Oneonta where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Philosophy in 2006. She attended the University at Albany where she graduated with a Master of Science in Education Administration and Policy Studies in 2009. She began doctoral studies in the St. John Fisher College Executive Leadership program in the summer of 2017. Ms. Hall conducted her research on how Jamaican DACA students describe their coping strategies after the 2017 DACA policy change under the direction of Dr. Shelley Jallow and Dr. Marguerita Circello. iv Abstract The topic of undocumented immigrants living in the United States stimulates consistent national and local debate. In 2012 President Barack Obama signed an executive order creating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy which provided undocumented immigrants work authorization and reprieve from deportation. In 2017, newly elected President Donald J. Trump announced the removal of the DACA policy. Researchers have focused on the impact of the removal of the DACA policy on undocumented Latino/a immigrants, but limited to no research has focused on the impact for Black immigrants, specifically those identifying as Jamaican. The purpose of this study was to inquire what coping strategies Jamaican DACA recipients are using as they transition with the 2017 DACA policy change. The study employed qualitative methodology, in particular, a narrative inquiry approach. The study found that since the DACA policy change announcement, participants are transitioning from feeling fortunate to experiencing fear of deportation. Participants also indicated without the benefit of the DACA policy, they lack sense of control in their lives. The study also showed participants have a strong support network to help them cope with the DACA policy change, but participants use religion as their primary coping strategy. The participants suggested the best coping strategy for their peers is to find a trusted individual to share their story. The lived experiences of undocumented Jamaican immigrants was similar to the research studies focused that on Latino/a undocumented immigrants. v Table of Contents Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iii Biographical Sketch ........................................................................................................... iv Abstract ............................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... x Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement .......................................................................................................... 5 Theoretical Rationale .................................................................................................... 12 Statement of Purpose .................................................................................................... 14 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 14 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................. 15 Definitions of Terms ..................................................................................................... 16 Chapter Summary ......................................................................................................... 17 Chapter 2: Review of the Literature .................................................................................. 18 Introduction and Purpose .............................................................................................. 18 U.S. Immigration Past to Present .................................................................................. 22 Jamaican Immigration 1500s to 2000s ......................................................................... 38 Undocumented Immigrants ........................................................................................... 42 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program ........................................................ 43 vi Mental Health................................................................................................................ 48 Community College .....................................................................................................