Separated by Removal: Impact of Parental Deportation on U.S. Citizen Children’s Post-Secondary Educational Goals
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: This research examines the impact of parental deportation on children's higher education aspirations.The study takes an inductive approach to analyzing interview data in order to answer the following question: in a mixed legal immigration status home, how does the removal of one or both parents impact a U.S. citizen child's aspirations to pursue a post-secondary education?Additionally, the following sub-questions are addressed: 1) How does forced separation affect the socio-emotional development of the adolescent with regard to their post-secondary aspirations?2) How is the social capital available to the adolescent influenced, if at all, by parental removal?In addressing these questions I employ two frameworks; Coleman's (1988) framework of social capital, and Bronfenbrenner's (1979; 2005) Ecological Systems Theory framework, as a way to interpret the reciprocal relationship between the adolescents and their environments, and to discuss how this relationship could affect their aspirations to pursue a postsecondary education.Open-ended, semi-structured interviews were conducted with U.S. born adolescents of Latino immigrant parents (primarily Mexicans), their parents/guardians who remain in the U.S. with them, people who had close knowledge of each family's situation, and local experts with experience in issues affecting families separated by deportation.In addition to the interviews, site observations in each of the participants' homes and/or school environments were conducted.The results of the study showed that parental deportation caused the families to suffer financial hardships, and emotional and psychological trauma.The forced separation negatively affected the adolescents' perception of stability, safety, and trustworthiness in their various microsystems, which directly hindered their ability to acquire forms of social capital conducive chair, Dr. Booth, and Dr. Viramontez for their guidance and support during this formative experience.Thank you for always being accessible to answer my questions.Dr. Collet, I am grateful to you for your philosopher's sensibility that constantly challenged me to explore beyond what was perceived as obvious.Dr. Booth, thank you for sharing your knowledge and patiently guiding me through the trials and tribulations of social research.Dr. Viramontez, thank you for your encouragement.To my writing consultant Christina Yaniga, thank you for your dedication.Dr. Sharon Subreenduth, thank you for being a
Author: Luis Fernando Macías
Institution: Bowling Green State University
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2604163406