Institute for Research on Labor and Employment

T he U.S. is home to approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants, including nearly 5 million undocumented children and young adults under the age of 30. California is home to roughly 2.6 million undocumented immigrants, making it one of the largest immigrant communities in the nation. Existing research on undocumented youth and young adults shows that this population faces severe barriers to higher education and good jobs, and that precarious immigration status can negatively impact youths’ health and wellbeing.