Undocumented Immigrants & Students

Reyna Montoya

Roadmap

Introduction/ Stories

Structural Barriers

Triggers & Scenarios

Conclusion/ Resources

Framework

Obj

ectiv

es:Deepen your understanding of structural barriers that

undocumented students and families face in AZ & the U.S.

Identify actions (words, classroom policies/practices) that trigger undocumented students to feel unsafe or attacked in the classroom

Provide a list of resources to guide their students

• (I.E. in-state, out of state scholarships, deportation resources, enrollment, local undocumented friendly organizations)

Reyna Montoya

Who are the undocumented in AZ?

Among the 11.2 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., there is estimated 400 thousands of undocumented immigrants living in the state of Arizona, which is ranked number 5 of the whole nation (D’Vera, Passel, 2011).

Hispanic students account for just 9% of young adults (ages 25 to 29) with a bachelor’s degree (Pew Hispanic Center 2014).

Latino drop out rate is significantly higher than Whites in Arizona: 83% of white students graduate high school compared to 69% of Latinos (Morrison Institute for Public Policy).

In the U.S. there are 2.1 million youth and young adults that could be eligible to apply for legal status under the DREAM Act. (Batalova, McHugh, 2010)

Among unauthorized immigrants ages 18 to 24 who have graduated from high school, half (49%) are in college or have attended college. The comparable figure for U.S.-born residents is 71% (Pew Hispanic, 2008).

Only 1% of undocumented young adults actually graduate from a 4-year college/university.

Posters & Visuals

Source: Migration Policy Institute

STRUCTURAL BARRIERS

• Passed in 2001 by AZ voters

• English-only law

Prop 203 & SEI

Prop 300

• Passed in 2006, implemented in 2007

• What does this look like today with DACA? – Community College vs. University

SB1070

• 287 (g) & ICE

• (83%) of deportations were carried out without appearing before a judge (Pew Hispanic Center, 2014)

Resulting Mental Health Struggles

• Blame Game

• Alienation

• Substance Abuse• Suicide

• Uncertain Future

• Financial

• Deportation• Family Separation

Fear Anxiety

ShameDepression

DEPORTATIONS

Mixed Status Families

TRIGGERS

• The media and you:– Associated Press 2013,

banned the use of the term illegal immigrant, saying the word illegal should describe only an action.

• Los Angeles Times, ABC, Univision, NBC and CNN

Drop the “I” Word

• Understanding systemic/political barriers

• Misconceptions

• Teachers viewed differently

“You can do anything if you work hard enough”

SCENARIOS

• 24,642 have been received in AZ

• 20,968 have been approved

• Source: (USCIS, June 2014)

• 712,064 have been received in AZ

• 675, 544 have been approved nationally

DACA vs. Non-DACA

National Arizona

Migrant Children, New Wave of Migration

Driver’s Licenses

• Traveling insecurities

Parent Teacher Relationships

• Language barriers – PTA, Call home, documents

• Creating a safe environment

Role Play

Scenario # 1

• Adriana comes to you and tells you that her dad has been detained and she is afraid that he will get deported. What do you do?

Scenario # 2

• Joel comes to you and tells you he is undocumented and wants to go to college. What do you do?

Scenario # 3

• Angel comes to you and tells you that he won’t be going to college after she graduates because she doesn’t have papers.

Scenario # 4

• You just found out that Alicia has been neglected and abused at home and she has does not have lawful immigration status. She is 16 years old. What do you do?

Scenario # 5

• Noel tells you that his house got raided and that both of his parents have been taken by I.C.E. He is only 14 years old. What do you do?

RESOURCES & CONCLUSION

Posters & Visuals

Further Development

Seco

nd T

ierPathways to College

Mental HealthPolicies and PoliticsNon DACA OpportunitiesDACA AttainmentFamily EngagementUndocuQueersSpanish Language ValidationNon Latin@ Undocumented

Actio

nOrganizing with the CommunityFighting for Favorable PoliciesSchool Workshops for Parents, Students, TeachersStudent ClubsHome VisitsStopping Deportations

Reyna Montoya remontoy90@gmail.com

Further information