Networks of Passing: Experiences of Undocumented Latin American Immigrants’ Identity Negotiation

Abstract

Undocumented Latin American immigrants are one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States, and they are one of the most vulnerable. Due to constant fear of deportation, these immigrants have to communicatively “pass” for documented in a variety of situations, and they might be likely to use informal network ties (social capital) to do so. Through eight diverse focus group interviews of undocumented immigrants, this study explores how this population passes. Undocumented immigrants used talk, the body, or documents to pass either individually or through network members. Implications for both theory and practice are discussed.

Keywords:

• Identity
• undocumented immigrants
• passing
• social capital
• stress and coping

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Acknowledgment

We are indebted for this project to Nayra Pacheco, the staff at Casa de la Raza (Santa Barbara), the students in COMM 175 (University of California at Santa Barbara), and all members of the undocumented immigrant community who assisted and/or took part in the study, along with their support networks.