Media representations of undocumented students in higher education

This thesis examines the media representation of undocumented students in higher education in regards to coverage of the California Dream Act AB 130 and AB 131 in the Los Angeles Times. These two legislations passed in 2011 and implemented in 2012 and 2013 grant undocumented students in California the opportunity to apply and receive financial aid partially derived from state funds and scholarships derived from non-state funds. The research analyzes the immigrant narratives in news articles; how undocumented student portrayal shifted the predominant negative representation of undocumented immigrants but they are nevertheless confined within the discourse of citizenship and "illegality." This research also examines undocumented student activism, their evolving process in navigating concepts of citizenship and "illegality" in efforts to pass pro-immigrant legislations, stop deportations and the criminalization undocumented people.