El Miedo y El Hambre: Understanding the Familial, Social, and Educational Realities of Undocumented Latino Families in North Central Indiana

Abstract

This study explored how different ecological factors, within and outside the family, affected the educational success of the children of undocumented families. The sample consisted of 63 immigrant Latino parents (40 families) who resided in North Central Indiana. This study utilized an ethnographic research design. Findings demonstrated that immigration laws were affecting the educational success of the children of undocumented families. Most parents expressed lack of familiarity of the American educational system and that they had culture and language barriers. Findings also demonstrated that undocumented families were adapting to their realities, as a result of the resiliency in their families and communities. Implications for practice and future research were provided.

KEYWORDS:

• social and educational outreach
• educational success
• undocumented immigrant Latino families

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank all the families who participated in this study. The authors also thank Dr. Sarah M. Harrison for reviewing the manuscript.

Notes

El Miedo y El Hambre translates to “fear and hunger” that illustrates the social, economic, and political realities of undocumented Latino families in North Central Indiana.

The authors thank the Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning at Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana, for financial support of this study. This research was part of a larger project of the Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., Grant 2006 1434-000.