The Psychological Impact of Being Undocumented
Undocumented/DACAmented college students may undergo certain experiences that can impact their psychological well-being (see below), however, each student may have a different experience than his/her peers. It is important that we do not assume all undocumented students go through the same things.
- Fear
- Stress
- Paranoia/Distrust
- Loneliness/Isolation
- Uncertainty
- Insecurity
- Powerlessness
- Helplessness
- Silencing
- Censoring
- Devaluation
- Dehumanization
- Rejection
- Humiliation
- Embarrassment
- Identity Confusion
- Discouragement
- Disappointment
- Frustration
- Anger
- Resentment
- Guilt
- Desperation
- Sadness
- Shame
The combination of any number of these experiences/emotions can lead to larger mental health concerns such as:
- Worthlessness
- Hopelessness
- Despair
- Cyclical “breakdowns”
- Psychosomatic symptoms
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Self-harming thoughts/behaviors
- Suicidal thoughts/suicide
DREAMers may tap into some protective factors in order to effectively manage the psychological impact of being undocumented. Some of these protective factors include:
- Social and emotional support from family and significant others (e.g., peers, teachers, counselors, community leaders)
- High parental involvement and support for higher education
- Parental work ethic
- Achievement motivation and familial obligation
- Organizational involvement and activism that provide a sense of belonging
- Religion
- High level of optimism and perseverance