Abstract
Undocumented migrants are a part of our daily lives, yet we rarely hear their stories or know who they really are; the word "undocumented" can have a negative connotation both within and outside the Latinx community and is often associated with criminals and various other negative stereotypes. This study aims to understand how identity is affected by documentation status and how that affects the undocumented and documented Latinx community, the experiences of Latinx people of different documentation status with connections to illegal immigration, and how they navigate through those experiences in the United States of America knowing that they are putting themselves at risk.
There is not enough representation of undocumented Latinx people and their role in society; it is important to understand the undocumented Latinx community and give them a voice because undocumented people are one of the U.S.' backbones in cultural and socio-economic terms. This investigation will provide more insight into their experiences and the identity struggle within the Latinx context through a series of interviews and an in-depth literature review of other publications sharing undocumented Latinx individuals' oral histories. It aims to shine a positive light on the community and contribute to future research on similar topics.
Thesis Completion
2021
Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair/Advisor
Sousa, Sandra
Degree
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
College
College of Arts and Humanities
Department
Modern Languages and Literatures
Degree Program
Latin American Studies
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Release Date
5-1-2021
Recommended Citation
Quintanilla, Thelma B., "Documenting the Undocumented: Understanding Identity and Displacement Through U.S. Latinx Experiences" (2021). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 961.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/961