A letter to undocumented students
Dear undocumented student,
Being a young undocumented immigrant can be an isolating experience. You and your family might face challenges that your friends and classmates might not be able to relate to. Depending on when you came to the United States, you might feel completely “American” because you grew up here or feel like you don’t belong at all because you arrived recently. Often times you might feel a little bit of both. We want to let you know that, whatever it is that you’re feeling, it is okay.
We believe it’s important to understand your experiences and realize how many other people are also going through similar circumstances. There are around 11 million undocumented immigrant in the United States, millions of whom are young students like you. You are not alone.
Challenges undocumented students face
Undocumented immigrants are frequently being subjected to traumatic experiences, like the threat or reality of family members being deported . These traumatic events can affect the way undocumented immigrants adjust to life in a new country.
Continuous discrimination
Exposure to Gangs
Immigration raids
Placement in detentions camps/child welfare
Fear of deportation
Forcible removal/separation from their families
Feelings of persecution and distrust of authorities and institutions
Lack of sense of belonging
Cultural barriers
Arbitrary checking of family members’ documentation status
Economic difficulties (ie. securing a job and affording basic necessities )
Difficulty speaking and learning English
Not knowing how to navigate the education system
Limited job opportunities
Family members not understanding your hopes and dreams for the future
Facing these challenges can cause anxiety, depression, and long-term trauma. They can put you on survival mode instead of working to achieve your fullest potential. However, despite facing these challenges, understand that they can’t prevent you from achieving your dreams. You are strong and resilient and you are capable of achieving amazing things. Rely on your past experiences and knowledge, like persistence and worth ethic, to remain strong. Consider building a tree of life to reclaim your identity and direction. To learn more what a tree of life is and how to create one, read this: The Tree of Life: A Simple Exercise for Reclaiming Your Identity and Direction in Life Through Story
You are not alone. Talk with friends, family or community support about any challenges you are experiencing. Know that you have legal rights and the ability to seek additional support. There are amazing organizations that are working hard to provide support to undocumented youth like yourself. Don’t be scared to seek help these resources, because they are here to help you succeed.
We have compiled information and useful resources to help you plan out your life, prepare for college, and explore career options that do not require work authorization. It’s a lot of information, but it is useful and important for you to understand. Knowledge is power.
If you still have questions after reading everything, you can message us below or email us at info@firstgenempower.com. If you don’t feel safe sharing your name or email, you can create an anonymous email account through gmail.com and use that to contact us.
You belong here. You deserve to be here. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.
In community,
Your friends at First Gen Empower
