Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2021
Keywords
DACA, undocumented immigrants, identity, acculturation, integration
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.3390/soc11010024
Abstract
Approximately 650,000 children and young adults currently reside in the United States with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, providing them with temporary legal status to reside in the country. We explored the phenomenon of how five DACA recipients experienced their national identities and how it contributed to their acculturation patterns using in-depth semi-structured interviews. We interpreted their comments through the theoretical lens of Berry’s (1997) acculturation theory and Edensor’s (2002) emphasis on everyday life as a critical factor of national identity. Although the participants had the desire to remain in the United States and be a part of U.S. culture, everyday realities of discrimination, and challenges accomplishing common life tasks taken for granted by American peers (getting a driver’s license, travelling, working, obtaining financial aid for higher education) kept the participants from fully integrating into American society and gaining a sense of belonging.
Rights Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Societies, v. 11, issue 1, art. 24
Scholar Commons Citation
Paschero, Sofia and McBrien, Jody, "National Identity and Integration Challenges of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Recipients" (2021). School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies Sarasota Manatee Campus Faculty Publications. 2.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/sigs_facpub_sm/2
