The educational experiences of DACA recipients

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) policy has given unauthorized immigrants access to many opportunities, specifically education. While DACA has improved the lives of many undocumented immigrants, this group continues to face obstacles while pursuing their educational aspirations. Using semi-structured interviews, the current study aimed to examine the educational experiences and understand the protective factors contributing to the successes of DACA recipients enrolled in college. Overall, interviews indicated that participants' educational journies were marked by challenges that were often mitigated by perseverance, strength, and motivation. Additionally, implications for ameliorating the experiences of DACA recipients are discussed.