8.3 Undocumented immigration and the DREAM Act movement

Undocumented immigration is a complex issue affecting millions in the U.S. Latinx immigrants face barriers to education, employment, and public benefits, living in fear of deportation. They also experience social stigma and discrimination, making daily life challenging.

The DREAM Act aimed to provide a path to legal status for undocumented youth. Though not passed, it sparked the Dreamer movement, raising awareness and leading to DACA. Undocumented Latinx youth have been at the forefront, advocating for broader immigration reform and social justice.

Undocumented Immigration in the U.S.

Definition of undocumented immigrants

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• Foreign-born individuals residing in the U.S. without legal authorization
  • Entered the country illegally by crossing the border without inspection (border crossing)
  • Overstayed their visas after entering legally (visa overstay)
• Estimated 10.5 to 12 million undocumented immigrants live in the U.S. as of 2018
  • Approximately 50-60% originated from Mexico
  • Significant populations from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (Central America)

Challenges for undocumented Latinx immigrants

• Face barriers accessing education
  • Ineligible for federal financial aid (Pell Grants) and many scholarships
  • Some states restrict access to in-state tuition rates at public universities
• Encounter difficulty obtaining legal employment
  • Lack of work authorization leads to exploitation by employers and lower wages
  • Often work in low-paying, labor-intensive industries (agriculture, construction)
• Live with constant fear and anxiety of deportation
  • Risk of family separation and forced return to dangerous conditions in home countries (violence, poverty)
• Excluded from eligibility for most public benefits
  • Cannot access healthcare subsidies (Affordable Care Act), welfare programs (SNAP), or social security benefits
• Experience social stigmatization and discrimination
  • Subjected to negative stereotypes and anti-immigrant rhetoric in media and politics
  • Face racial profiling and targeting by law enforcement (collaboration with ICE)

The DREAM Act and Dreamer Movement

Origins of DREAM Act

• DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act first introduced in Congress in 2001
  • Aimed to provide a pathway to legal status for undocumented youth brought to U.S. as children
• Key provisions of the proposed legislation:
  1. Conditional residency for individuals who entered U.S. before age 16 and lived continuously for 5 years
  2. Eligibility for permanent residency after completing 2 years of college or military service
• Dreamer movement emerged to advocate for passage of DREAM Act and rights of undocumented youth
  • Led by undocumented youth activists self-identifying as "Dreamers"
  • Utilized storytelling, civil disobedience, and grassroots organizing tactics to build public support

Impact of DREAM Act movement

• Successes:
  • Raised public awareness about challenges faced by undocumented youth
  • Pressured Obama administration to implement DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) in 2012
    • Provided temporary deportation relief and work authorization for eligible undocumented youth
  • Inspired a new generation of undocumented activists and leaders
• Limitations:
  • DREAM Act has not been passed into law despite multiple reintroductions in Congress
  • DACA is a temporary solution and does not provide a pathway to citizenship
  • Movement criticized for focusing on "deserving" immigrants and not addressing broader undocumented population

Role of undocumented Latinx youth

• Undocumented Latinx youth at forefront of Dreamer movement
  • Share personal stories to humanize the issue of undocumented immigration
  • Challenge criminalization and dehumanization of undocumented immigrants in public discourse
• Advocate for comprehensive immigration reform beyond DREAM Act
  • Call for protections and pathways to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants
  • Emphasize importance of family unity and impact of deportations on mixed-status families
• Engage in intersectional activism and coalition-building
  • Connect immigrant rights to racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic inequality
  • Collaborate with other marginalized communities to build solidarity and collective power