A new report from the UC Collaborative to Promote Immigrant and Student Equity (UC PromISE) summarizes results of a study of children of immigrants attending the University of California. Led by Laura Enriquez, UCI associate professor of Chicano/Latino studies, the report establishes that immigration policies disrupt the educational experiences and wellbeing of not only undocumented students but also those who are U.S. citizens with undocumented parents.

Register for the Feb. 16 webinar featuring Enriquez and team where findings will be shared.

Undocumented students and those from mixed-status families experience higher levels of depressive symptoms that warrant clinical treatment and higher rates of GPAs below 2.5 than those whose parents have lawful immigration status. Despite having more secure legal status, U.S. citizens with undocumented parents report similar levels of financial and legal vulnerability as undocumented students; about three in five reported food insecurity and nine in ten worried about family separation. 40% of undocumented students and 52% of U.S. citizens with undocumented parents reported that they, a family member, and/or a friend had been involved in deportation proceedings, detained, or deported, compared to 23% of U.S. citizens whose parents have lawful immigration status.

“The similarities are staggering,” says Enriquez. “It is clear that immigration policies are harming entire families, compromising the success of students even when they themselves are U.S. citizens.”

An accompanying research brief details how COVID has been differentially experienced by these student communities as well. “Students’ and parents’ undocumented status created strain on students’ finances, academics, financial, and wellbeing, underscoring their need for federal and school-level support during this pandemic,” says co-author Annie Ro, UCI associate professor of public health. All students reported negative effects of COVID in these areas but undocumented students report the most severe effects in most areas. U.S. citizens with undocumented parents often reported similar or slightly lower rates of effects.

“Our findings call attention to the widespread consequences of immigration policies,” Enriquez says. “They bring even more urgency to the need to pass President Biden’s proposed immigration bill. It is crucial that immigration reform provide a clear pathway to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants to protect the wellbeing of immigrant and racial minority communities.” In the meantime, the report calls on universities to build on the success of undocumented student services and expand support to all those who are impacted. The research team also included colleagues from UC Riverside and UC Merced.

Learn more:

• Advancing Equity for Undocumented Students and Students from Mixed-Status Families at the University of California
• How Self and Parental Immigration Status Affect College Students’ Experiences of COVID-19
• Persisting Inequalities and Paths Forward: A Report on the State of Undocumented Students in California’s Public Universities
• UCI-led study profiles undocumented students’ experiences in state public universities

caption: The latest report from research led by Laura Enriquez, UCI associate professor of Chicano/Latino studies compares the experiences of three groups of state university students: undocumented immigrants, U.S. citizens with undocumented parents, and U.S. citizens with parents who are permanent residents or naturalized citizens. Luis Fonseca/UCI Social Sciences