This qualitative study examined how anti-immigrant sentiment and immigration actions during the first Trump presidency affected the educational experiences of undocumented college students. Drawing from the testimonios of 10 participants, findings highlight how fear related to deportation and separation from families, uncertainty about the future, and hostile campus climates manifested in participants' educational lives. Further, by employing an ecological framework, findings demonstrate how immigration laws, policies, and public discourse shaped the collegiate experiences of participants. This paper concludes with practical implications that universities, administrators, and educators can employ to create campus environments where undocumented students feel heard, safe, and supported.
Valerie Gomez (2025) studied this question.