Abstract
ABSTRACTThis qualitative study explores how undocumented immigrant youth navigate the uncertainty of an ambiguous, or liminal, legal status. By focusing on the case of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), I build on the concept of liminal legality to advance our understanding of how transitioning from “illegal” to quasi-legal shapes social inclusion. Using a modified grounded theory approach, I analyse data from in-depth interviews with 39 DACA recipients in the state of South Carolina. A constant comparative approach is used while completing open and focused coding, and multiple steps are taken to support the trustworthiness of the study. I show how liminal legality presents a double bind for youth because DACA communicates two different and contradictory messages simultaneously. I argue that this is a form of legal violence: beneficiaries are given the hope of social inclusion without the possibility of fully attaining it.
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