| The study detailed the life history of a family of five, Georgia high school graduates, undocumented students using semi-structured interviews. Because the five participants were all of Latino descent and undocumented students, their lived experiences were expected to add to the relatively young research concerning the sensitive, yet powerful, subject of undocumented people and higher education preparedness, access and achievement. The themes derived from the findings of the interviews, academic attainment, family unit issues, immigration issues, identity and challenges to daily life are all areas that are affected by the legal predicaments in which the undocumented students find themselves. Following the five principles of LatCrit, the participants acknowledge 1) that their race accounts for their experiences of oppression and cultural racism; 2) conventional concepts of the educational system do not apply to them as undocumented students; 3) equal opportunities is lacking when dealing with undocumented students; 4) empowering siblings with the lived experience of the eldest sibling and of others is very important to the advancing of their educational attainment and 5) poor educational support is a reality for undocumented, Hispanic students. |
