Challenges facing Latinx ESOL students in the Trump era: Stories told through testimonios

ABSTRACT

In this essay, two ESOL teachers reflect on the implications of the DACA program and the DREAM Act for undocumented Latinx ELs, their families, and their communities in the United States. Six testimonios from real undocumented ELs are shared with the vision of illustrating the real-life struggles these students and their families are exposed to in the Trump era. The authors’ vision is that these testimonios will shed light on the realities their students experience and will combat stereotypical beliefs that Latinx ELs/immigrants are uneducated, do not value education, cannot learn English, and have a poor work ethic.

KEY WORDS:

• DACA
• DREAM Act
• education
• ELs
• Latinx students
• testimonios

Acknowledgments

We would like to express appreciation to our colleagues and contributors for making this project a reality. Most importantly, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to our ESOL students and their families. Thank you for your candor in sharing your stories, for trusting us as your teachers and advocates, and for your continued perseverance in the face of adversity. We hope that, in this essay, your stories and voices will be heard.