Twelfth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences of undocumented Latinx students in the United States pursuing an undergraduate degree at a research one institution in the state of Florida. This research explores the challenges undocumented students have overcome in the process of navigating post-secondary education in the age of Trump. Latina/o Critical Race Theory (LatCrit), (Solorano & Delgado Bernal, 2001) which examines experiences unique to the Latinx community such as immigration status, language, ethnicity, and culture, is the theoretical framework used to interpret and describe the findings of this study. This study uses a phenomenology method of inquiry and intensity sampling approach. First, I selected the phenomenology method of inquiry as it aligns with the purpose of this study. Specifically, this method aims to gain a deeper understanding of the nature or meaning of the participants day-to-day experiences of undocumented immigrants. Observing and discussing the experience of navigating daily tasks as an undocumented resident shed light on challenges or barriers that young people regularly work to overcome. Secondly, I decided to use the intensity sampling method as Patton (2001) describes this approach saying it “requires prior information and exploratory work to be able to identify intense examples.” As limited time is available to conduct this study, intensity sampling allowed me to focus on a few cases that provided a rich, detailed, and in-depth account of their lived experiences highlighting the phenomenon of Latinx undocumented students who navigate post-secondary education.