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Chapter 11 - The COVID-19 Pandemic and Undocumented Hispanic/Latino/x College Men

from Part II - Experiences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2024

By
Luis Ponjuán ,
Rodrigo Aguayo ,
Jase K. Kugiya ,
Armando Lizarraga ,
Emmet Campos  and
Victor Sáenz
Edited by
Blake R. Silver  and
Graziella Pagliarulo McCarron
Blake R. Silver
Affiliation:
George Mason University
Graziella Pagliarulo McCarron
Affiliation:
George Mason University
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Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for many Hispanic/Latino/x college students, especially for Hispanic/Latino/x college-enrolled men who were undocumented in South Texas. We used an asset-based lens to explore the nuanced educational experiences of these students. Specifically, we relied on Yosso’s theoretical framework of community cultural wealth to describe how these students overcame various institutional barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic (Yosso, 2005). Their voices revealed a complex portrait of how they made courageous decisions to apply and enroll in college and fund their college education to earn a college degree or credential, despite their immigration status, so they may financially contribute to their families and local communities. Additionally, these students also described how they navigated their educational and career options despite the limited options for future employment. These findings provide a positive view of these students’ courage and resilience to improve their lives through education, despite their immigration status and the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

Latino/x menundocumentedDACAcollegesCOVID-19South Texasenrolmentfinancial support
Type
Chapter
Information
Supporting College Students of Immigrant Origin
New Insights from Research, Policy, and Practice
 , pp. 223 - 246
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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