Undocumented, Unafraid, and Unapologetic: Exploring the Role of Activism in DACAmented Latinas/os/xs’ Thwarted Transition into Adulthood Elizabeth Hernandez Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy under the Executive Committee of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 2018 © 2018 Elizabeth Hernandez All rights reserved ABSTRACT Undocumented, Unafraid, and Unapologetic: Exploring the Role of Activism in DACAmented Latinas/os/xs’ Thwarted Transition into Adulthood Elizabeth Hernandez Given the growing population of undocumented Latina/o/x immigrants who came to the United States as children, there is a need for research that explores the risk and protective factors of their experiences growing up in the United States. As they transition through adolescence, they emerge as adults in a very different world. No longer protected from deportation, they must take more serious risks with employment. Without access to federal financial aid, they face the reality that they may never be able to utilize their college education in the United States. Against these odds, and with the temporary protection of DACA, an increasing number of undocumented childhood arrivals are civically engaged in the immigrant rights movement. Employing a qualitative method based on constructivist and feminist frameworks called Consensual Qualitative Research, this study sought to explore the impact of activism in Latina/o/x DACAmented immigrants’ thwarted transition to adulthood, highlighting the ways in which Latina/o/x cultural values mitigate the impact of activism. The sample consisted of 12 Latina/o/x DACAmented activists, eight women and four men, ages 18-32, from Mexico (n = 10), Guatemala (n = 1), and Dominican Republic (n = 1). The findings in this study not only suggested that protective migration factors, DACA-related privileges, and strong coping skills contributed to Latina/o/x DACAmented immigrants’ decision to become activists, but they also noted that activism has been a protective factor in and of itself. The results also showed the ways in which Latina/o/x cultural values helped them make sense of their unique experiences and were consistent with the values within their activist communities. Existing clinical recommendations, resources, and research methods were highlighted as ways in which mental health providers can apply these findings in their clinical, training, and research practice. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures………… ............................................................................................................ iii List of Appendices………. ........................................................................................................ iv Chapter I – INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................. 4 Demographic Considerations ............................................................................................ 8 Chapter II – REVIEW OF LITERATURE .................................................................................. 10 Immigration Policy in the United States: From Inclusion to Exclusion .......................... 11 Undocumented Immigration ................................................................................ 12 Undocumented immigrants from Mexico ................................................ 14 Undocumented immigrants from Central America .................................. 16 Undocumented immigrants from the Caribbean ...................................... 17 Undocumented workers ........................................................................... 18 Undocumented immigrant women and children ...................................... 19 College-eligible undocumented youth ..................................................... 20 Immigrant Rights Movement ............................................................................... 21 DREAM Act and DACA ......................................................................... 22 Latina/o/x Immigrants in the United States ..................................................................... 24 Latina/o/x Cultural Identity .................................................................................. 25 Racial/Ethnic Stereotypes of Latinas/os/xs .......................................................... 26 Latina/o/x Immigrant Mental Health ................................................................... 27 Latina/o/x immigrant children’s mental health ........................................ 31 Academic resilience among Latino/o/x immigrant adolescents .............. 32 Mental Health of Undocumented Immigrants ................................................................. 35 First-generation Undocumented Immigrants ....................................................... 36 Children of Undocumented Immigrants .............................................................. 37 1.5-generation Undocumented Immigrants ......................................................... 39 Health and adjustment of emerging adults ............................................... 41 Resilience in Latina/o/x undocumented immigrant youth ....................... 44 Activism of undocumented immigrant youth .......................................... 45 Current Study ................................................................................................................... 47 Chapter III – METHOD ............................................................................................................... 50 Participants ....................................................................................................................... 51 Instruments ....................................................................................................................... 53 Demographic Form .............................................................................................. 53 Interview Protocol ................................................................................................ 53 Procedures ........................................................................................................................ 54 Recruitment .......................................................................................................... 54 Confidentiality and Informed Consent ................................................................. 54 Ethical Considerations ......................................................................................... 55 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................... 56 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 56 i Domain Development .......................................................................................... 57 Generating Core Ideas .......................................................................................... 57 Cross-analysis ...................................................................................................... 58 Chapter III (continued) Frequency Labels ................................................................................................. 58 Research Team ..................................................................................................... 59 Biases and expectations ........................................................................... 60 Chapter IV – RESULTS .............................................................................................................. 62 Typical Case Narrative .................................................................................................... 62 Domains ........................................................................................................................... 67 Domain 1: Reason for Migration ......................................................................... 67 Domain 2: Age at Arrival to the United States .................................................... 68 Domain 3: Mode of Entry to the United States .................................................... 69 Domain 4: Migration Educational Experiences ................................................... 70 Domain 5: Environmental Factors in the United States ....................................... 71 Domain 6: Family Dynamics in the United States ............................................... 72 Domain 7: Reactions to Immigration Barriers ..................................................... 73 Domain 8: Experiences of Oppression ................................................................ 76 Domain 9: Impact of Immigration on Cultural Identity ....................................... 78 Domain 10: Impact of Immigration on Education ............................................... 82 Domain 11: Impetus for “Coming Out” ............................................................... 85 Domain 12: Benefits of Immigrant Rights Activism ........................................... 87 Domain 13: Costs of Immigrant Rights Activism ............................................... 89 Domain 14: Impact of DACA .............................................................................. 91 Chapter V – DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................