Undocumented and Immigrant Students

Referred to as the 1.5 generation, immigrant and undocumented youth were often brought to the United States at an early age. They straddle the cultural border between their homeland and the US. They are not US citizens, but they grew up here, went to school here, and identify with the culture. These students face incredible economic and legal, social and emotional, and educational barriers. Despite these barriers, they have continually shown themselves to be an extremely determined, inspirational and resilient group; evidenced by their ability to succeed despite the legal limitations continuously thrown in their path. In Plyer v. Doe, 1982, the US Supreme Court ruled that no child should be denied a K-12 public education based on their immigration status: “Whatever savings might be achieved by denying these children an education, they are wholly insubstantial in light of the costs involved to these children, the State, and the Nation.” U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, writing the opinion of the court, Plyler v. Doe, 1982. Despite this ruling, immigrant and undocumented youth still struggle to access paths to higher education. Contrary to popular belief, many undocumented immigrants pay into the federal and state tax system, and yet we still deny their children funding to higher education.  Research shows that allowing this determined group of young people to join their peers in higher education and the workforce would not displace US born citizens, but would in fact, be a great benefit and aid to our economy.