Who We Have Become: Mexican-american Citizens Growing Up with Parents of Unauthorized Status

Second-generation Mexican-American millennials with parents of unauthorized status are understudied in the current literature compared to first-generation children and young adults who have unauthorized status in the United States. Although many second-generation Mexican-Americans in mixed-status households encounter hardships, some are able to surpass these adversities and excel in their adult lives, which is the main focus of this study. This study aims to examine the identity formation into adulthood of second-generation Mexican-Americans living with parents of unauthorized status and how they are influenced by their biculturalism, consisting of both American and Mexican heritage. In-depth interviews regarding their childhoods, family structures, parents' motivations, the American Dream, and adult outcomes are used to explore the topic of identity formation and their pursuit of a better life.