Chapter 5: Overstaying Our Welcome: Undocumented Asian Immigrant Experiences with Racial Microaggressions in Research and Education

Approximately 11% of the undocumented immigrants in the United States are from Asian countries. Many of them overstay visas and acquire undocumented status, which lead them to become subjected to the criminalization, policing, and financial hardship that often characterize undocumented immigrant experiences. However, due to the simultaneous racialization of Asian Americans as model minorities, undocumented Asian youth are subject to a complex marginalization that often exacerbates issues associated with their immigration status. This paper uses critical race theory to examine how racism and nativism coalesce to impact the lives of 14 undocumented Asian youth, particularly in regard to their educational experiences. Through their narratives, undocumented Asian youth reveal how their immigration status has conditioned practices of non-disclosure, which subsequently have perpetuated racial microaggressions directed at them in an educational context.