Roberto G. Gonzales: Lives in Limbo: Undocumented and Coming of Age in America

Excerpt

The US immigration system is incomplete and the lack of appropriate legislation has proved to be a major barrier for undocumented youth living in the United States. Policies that specifically target undocumented youth in the US have emerged over the last few years. Beginning in 2012, policies such as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Permanent Residents), and President Obama’s DREAM act have been presented to Congress. While not all have been enacted, they all address the growing problem that is undocumented youth in the United States. Harvard professor Roberto G. Gonzales followed a group of 150 undocumented young adults and their narratives in his book: Lives of Limbo: Undocumented and Coming of Age in America. This book expertly sheds light on the US governments’ failure to devise effective and ethical immigration policies. It also reveals how the lives of these young adults have been dramatically shaped by their illegal status. Gonzales focuses on two paths that exist for the young adults: college-goers and early exiters from formal education. He specifically addresses this question: will their lives be drastically different or will their illegality prove to be stronger than their work? …