Tenuous options: The career development process for undocumented students

Abstract

Undocumented students face a variety of legal restraints in their efforts to enter higher education in the United States. These same legal restraints are just as formidable at the end of their academic career. Career development and other student affairs professionals need to understand these legal restraints so they can maximize the chances that undocumented students have to achieve their educational and career goals.

¿Y ahora qué? Anticipated immigration status barriers and Latina/o high school students’ future expectations.

“…Attention to the career development of undocumented Latina/o students has been sparse, with only a handful of studies directly addressing this issue, and most focusing on college students (Ortiz & Hinojosa, 2010;Pabón López & López, 2009;Pérez et al, 2009;. The aim of this study is to understand whether Latina/o high school students' vocational outcome expectations, anticipated barriers, and postsecondary plans varied as a function of their immigration status.…”

Academic and Career Development of Undocumented College Students: The American Dream?

“…For many undocumented students, academic and work choices are limited by confusing or restrictive college admissions policies and lack of access to financial aid or scholarships (Perez, Cortes, Ramos, & Coronado, ). Furthermore, a lack of documentation paperwork limits students' ability to find legal employment and obtain a driver's license, which can directly affect the opportunities available to them on college campuses (e.g., work study, internships, and educational travel; Ortiz & Hinojosa, ). Financing college is a primary obstacle faced by undocumented students because current government policies restrict students from accessing federal‐ and state‐based financial aid (e.g., grants or loan programs; Perez et al, ).…”

“…McWhirter, Ramos, and Medina () also found that Latino(a) high school students with undocumented status demonstrated lower vocational outcome expectations and anticipated more barriers to pursing higher education compared with students with legal documentation. Undocumented college students may also encounter distinct barriers during the career development process, such as limited career opportunities and increased risk of not being able to secure a job in one's area of education and training as the result of barriers (Ortiz & Hinojosa, ). Regardless of qualifications, undocumented students may not be able to legally enter the workforce after graduation (Ortiz & Hinojosa, ).…”

“…Undocumented college students may also encounter distinct barriers during the career development process, such as limited career opportunities and increased risk of not being able to secure a job in one's area of education and training as the result of barriers (Ortiz & Hinojosa, ). Regardless of qualifications, undocumented students may not be able to legally enter the workforce after graduation (Ortiz & Hinojosa, ).…”

Understanding Immigrant College Students: Applying a Developmental Ecology Framework to the Practice of Academic Advising

“…Some immigrant students will be undocumented. potentially leading to other issues related to financial aid status and career decision making (Gildersleeve & Ranero, 2010;Ortiz & Hinojosa, 2010).…”