Doers Not Dreamers: Supporting Un-DACA-mented Students After College

Thinking about life after college can be exciting. However, for some, it can be a scary and uncertain time. The focus issue addressed in this Capstone Project is on how to support undocumented college students better to prepare them for life after graduation. This is an important issue for undocumented college students because they are working hard to earn their degrees but cannot get a job in the fields they are prepared for. An evidence-based argument is made that investment should be made in the future of undocumented students, as they are well prepared and qualified to take on jobs that have a high demand but cannot approach because of their immigration status. Considerations of the issue should include the perspectives of a Liberal Studies academic adviser and a resource specialist for the Undocu-Success program at a public university, along with a recent non-DACA graduate who is employed and a professor for future educators. Three themes/action options emerged from an analysis of the data and were explored as ways to address the issue presented. A call to Congress is argued to be the most effective way to allow undocumented college graduates to get a job after college, though it takes the longest