Chicanx-Latinx Law Review

This study utilizes a Latina/o Critical Theory (LatCrit) framework to examine how undocumented and formerly undocumented Chicana/Latina college graduates are impacted by the California DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, S 1291) and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), recent state and federal policies meant to increase educational and economic opportunities for undocumented youth who meet certain requirements regarding age, education, criminal record and time in the U.S. Findings indicate that the historical contradictions of access and restriction of legal protections and opportunities for the undocumented continue with these policies and become lived in the daily experiences of the study participants. Longitudinal data includes a series of two interviews conducted in 2008 with 10 undocumented Chicana/Latina undergraduates, and a series of two additional follow-up interviews conducted in 2013-2014 with 9 of the original 10 participants, a total of 38 interviews.