Undocumented Immigrant Status: Implications for Music Education

Although issues concerning immigration have been debated for decades, the results of the 2016 U.S. presidential election ignited additional politicization, particularly regarding undocumented immigration. Dominant narratives of undocumented persons continue to be framed in damaging and deficit perspectives that position individuals as unhuman (“alien”) and criminal (“illegal”). Considering the ongoing anti-immigrant climate, it is imperative to learn from undocumented student experiences and how citizenship status might impact access to and participation in music classes. Importantly, learning from undocumented students’ experiences could help educators and administrators better support a significant population in school communities. In this review of literature, I explore research relevant to undocumented immigrant students in the United States and offer implications for working with undocumented students and families.