Shared experiences among Mexican American mixed-status families

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences, beliefs, values, and norms among Mexican-American mixed-status families, living in the Californian cities of South Los Angeles, South Gate, and Santa Ana. Through a qualitative approach, 5 Mexican-American mixed-status family members were interviewed and given the opportunity to tell their story and share their unique experiences. The qualitative data was then analyzed to search for patterns, in which 3 themes emerged. The main findings from this study revealed that Mexican-American mixed-status families are conscious of their undocumented status, however, they manage to separate their uncertainties of deportation from living ordinary, and productive lives with their children. These findings suggest a high level of resilience, which was facilitated through the heavy utilization of coping resources, which included the ethnic immigrant enclave, companionship or fictive kin, transnational ties, and their children’s language and cultural skills.