Do Undocumented Students Play by the Rules

The title of the article may be misleading but the author talks about the need to reframe the immigration, especial DREAM Act debate away from narratives that rely on ‘meritocracy’ and individualism. According to Professor Jefferies from Boston College:

Debates around policy for immigrant students, especially, need to be informed by the dangers of tapping into an ideology that stresses individualism, as undocumented students face a host of barriers that sit outside individual notions of success.

Basically, Jefferies is saying that a focus on meritocracy and individualism camouflages actual structural inequalities in American society that also work against undocumented students because

“in meritocratic terms, this population will rarely “succeed,” because systematic barriers block access to higher education institutions and professional advancement. We must acknowledge, however, the ubiquity of individual narratives in the American conscience, as well as their common practice in journalistic genres, while recognizing that these are especially problematic
for undocumented students as society for them is not a fair and equal playing ground. Such individualist renderings obliterate the fact that structural factors, such as social and cultural advantages, unequal educational opportunities, and discrimination in all of its forms, are barriers to this success.

I believe that this is one of the more reasonable critiques (if not the most) against the language and narratives surrounding DREAM Act–it isn’t specifically against the nature of the act, but rather, questions how it perpetuates the notion of “if you work hard in America, nothing is impossible.” That American dream is fallacious and a lie for many who do face structural barriers and inequalities to achieving that dream.

In one defense of this framing, we can argue that it is the best way of ’selling’ the act to Congress and the American public because undocumented students for the most part, have had to fail or succeed all on their own, and we must recognize that even though the spirit of the American DREAM may be a lie for many, these students have still worked hard to make that lie into truth. Another point is that we can argue against ‘meritocratic’ standards after approving of the DREAM Act because rhetoric and framing really isn’t reason enough to continue punishing children and young adults, depriving them and the American economy of much-needed productivity.

Discussion welcome. The author and editor of the article also welcome comments.

Popularity: 3% [?]