Emotional Challenges of Undocumented Young Adults: Ontological Security, Emotional Capital, and Well-being

The Limits of Gaining Rights while Remaining Marginalized: The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program and the Psychological Wellbeing of Latina/o Undocumented Youth

“…Legally vulnerable groups can also experience stigma, fear of informal or formal rejection or expulsion, and the loss of ontological security-the ability to count on the stability of the future (Vaquera, Aranda and Sousa-Rodriguez 2017). Consistent with the predictions of identity control theory (Thoits 1991), legally vulnerable young adults' mental health may also be influenced by discordance between their perceptions of self as individuals deserving of rights and their stigmatized political identities (Abrego 2011; see also Gee et al 2016).…”

“…We began by creating an open coding tree based on published work on immigrant legal status and wellbeing (e.g. Gee et al 2016, Patler and Pirtle 2018, Vaquera, Aranda and Sousa-Rodriguez 2017, Venkataramani et al 2017). As we proceeded through the transcripts, we added codes and themes inductively.…”

Potential Stressors of Undocumented Latinx Youth: Implications and Recommendations for School Counselors

“…Undocumented immigrants may be at an even greater psychological risk of depression due to their undocumented status, unique migration stressors, limited access to health care, and experiences with poverty (Cobb, Xie, & Sanders, 2016;Potochnick & Perreira, 2010;Suarez-Orozco, 2017;Sullivan & Rehm, 2005). In particular, studies have shown that undocumented individuals report feelings of loneliness, feeling trapped, sadness, and suffering (McGuire & Georges, 2003;Sullivan & Rehm, 2005;Vaquera, Aranda, & Sousa-Rodriguez, 2017), which could be related to their experiences before, during, and after migration (Garcini et al, 2017). However, research has also shown that strong social support at home and in school can promote healthier psychological outcomes for undocumented Latinx youth Potochnick & Perreira, 2010).…”

DACAmented Law Students and Lawyers in the Trump Era

“…These feelings and coping techniques are similar to those reported in other research on DACA recipients and the unauthorized community more broadly. 18 While interviewees were overwhelmingly determined to find a way to pursue their professional careers in the United States, those who did not actively seek support tended to be less hopeful about the future and relatively less motivated to map out future plans.…”