Dreaming of Leaving the Nest? Immigration Status and the Living Arrangements of Dacamented

Consequences of deferred action for childhood arrivals for parent health: Applying a social foreground perspective

“…Note that because our data are limited to coresident parents, the analyses that follows involves both an assessment of how DACA passage might affect the health of parents of DACA‐eligible persons and an examination of how DACA itself changes overall patterns of coresidence with parents and characteristics of parents themselves. Given that prior research indicates that DACA‐eligible offspring are more likely to leave the parental nest following DACA (Gihleb et al, 2023), we see potential selection effects into coresidence, especially among DACA‐eligible respondents who may no longer need to live with parents because of resource constraints, but for whom coresiding with parents may occur for other reasons.…”

“…We restrict our sample to offspring ages 19–40 years at the time of the survey. Given that the vast majority of DACA recipients are from Latin America, with 80% of DACA recipients born in Mexico alone (Gihleb et al, 2023), we also restrict our sample to foreign‐born respondents born in Mexico, Central America, and/or the Caribbean. In addition, we limit the sample to those who received at least a high school education and had lived in the United States for at least 5 years, mirroring criteria for DACA eligibility.…”

“…In this study, we examine whether a historic shift in legal status through DACA produced spillover effects onto parents' lives. Results from prior research finds that young adults who are eligible to receive DACA are more likely to graduate from high school (Kuka et al, 2020), to enter into the workforce (Hsin & Ortega, 2018), and to move out of the parental home (Gihleb et al, 2023). Whereas interviews with undocumented young adults prior to DACA passage cited substantial barriers to forming long‐term romantic relationships (Enriquez, 2015), recent work finds mixed or no clear effects on family formation processes, including marriage and fertility (Gihleb et al, 2023).…”

“…Results from prior research finds that young adults who are eligible to receive DACA are more likely to graduate from high school (Kuka et al, 2020), to enter into the workforce (Hsin & Ortega, 2018), and to move out of the parental home (Gihleb et al, 2023). Whereas interviews with undocumented young adults prior to DACA passage cited substantial barriers to forming long‐term romantic relationships (Enriquez, 2015), recent work finds mixed or no clear effects on family formation processes, including marriage and fertility (Gihleb et al, 2023). In essence, by granting young adults access to work permits and a stay from deportation, DACA recipients may be able to reach some of the normative markers that represent a successful transition to adulthood.…”

“…DACA may also invoke anxiety among parents who are unable to support children through the application process, or for whom covering the fee for the application and renewals causes financial stress. Notably, recent research finds that DACA enables the completion of important milestones in the transition to adulthood among its recipients, which includes moving out of the parental home (Gihleb et al, 2023). An increase in independent living for DACA‐eligible recipients may mean that those who do live with parents are a selective group of children and parents.…”