Abstract: Through testimonios, I explore how undocu/DACAmented Latina/o students seek to engage in career preparation and planning during college in the Midwest. I reveal how one’s undocumented or DACA status influences their major or career changes, access to internship/placement experiences, access to employment, and more. I share students’ reflections on how their undocu/DACAmented status serves as a master status influencing decision-making during college and in anticipation of their careers after graduation. Without DACA protections, undocumented students experienced exacerbated challenges due to policy and tacit practice. Implications for institutional policy and practice are discussed alongside federal and state policy considerations.
Courtney L. Luedke (2026) studied this question.