IBS Seminar, Hosted by CUPC: Rocky Mountain Dreaming: Undocumented Young Adults in Colorado

Edelina Burciaga, CU Denver, Sociology

Title: Rocky Mountain Dreaming: Undocumented Young Adults in Colorado​

Abstract: About 2 million undocumented immigrants are members of the 1.5-generation, meaning they came to the United States as children and remain here without a pathway to citizenship. Legal status shapes nearly every facet of their lives, from their educational participation to their sense of belonging. Drawing from survey and in-depth interview data from the ongoing CO Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) study, this talk examines how the lives of undocumented young adults in Colorado, a re-emergent immigrant destination, varies by where one lives and grows up, or place. More specifically how are undocumented young adults in rural and urban contexts navigating different opportunities, resources, and challenges.

Bio: Edelina Burciaga is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Colorado, Denver. Edelina’s research and teaching interests including immigration, socio-legal studies, Latina/o sociology, and education. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a public interest attorney focusing on civil rights.