Congratulations go out to Oralia Zamarripa who successfully defended her Master's Thesis titled ""Pórtate Bien": Latinx Immigrant Parentage and Second-Generation Children’s Behavior." Oralia is guided by Dr. Nancy Plankey-Videla with Dr. Pat Goldsmith as the co-chair and Emilce Santana and Kalena Cortes (Public Service and Administration) as her committee members.
Oralia's study examines how parental nativity and documentation status influence second-generation Latinx children’s behavioral and emotional outcomes in U.S. schools. Using data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) this research analyzes differences in school suspension rates, perceptions of safety, and feelings of fear. Grounded in the frameworks of legal violence, social learning theory, and multigenerational punishment, the analysis employs linear regression with Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimates to compare outcomes among children of U.S. citizens, documented immigrants, and undocumented immigrants. Results reveal that children of undocumented Latinx mothers exhibit lower suspension rates than their peers, suggesting behavioral adaptations to avoid disciplinary scrutiny. While perceptions of safety and fear show minimal variation across groups, enrollment in English as a Second Language (ESL) programs is associated with fewer suspensions but greater reported fear. This study contributes to scholarship on immigration, education, and inequality by demonstrating how legal precarity shapes second-generation children's experiences despite their birthright U.S. citizenship. The findings call for policies that address the educational and legal vulnerabilities of Latinx immigrant families.
Congratulations, Oralia!