The differentiated legal landscape that undocumented students face varies considerably across the United States. This study articulates the multiscalar and socio-legal contexts that frame the limitations and opportunities for undocumented youth accessing higher education in a new destination state. The Virginia experience as a southern and new immigrant destination is instructive. Virginia is the only southern state that offers in-state tuition for DACA holders, and then expanded tuition equity to all undocumented youth who graduate from high school in the state. Through surveys, a focus group, and coordination with a not-for-profit organization, we were able to survey 117 students, the majority of whom have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). We conclude that local and state-wide actors, institutions, and networks exist in Virginia that are critical to understanding the necessary pathways for undocumented youth to obtain higher education. Yet the ability of these students to remain in the US as skilled workers and/or college students is currently threatened at the federal level, especially with efforts to eliminate DACA.

在美国，无证件学生所面对的不同法律环境差异很大。这项研究阐明了多层面和社会法律背景，这些背景为无证件青年在新的目的地州接受高等教育提供了限制和机会。弗吉尼亚州作为南部和新移民目的地的经历具有启发性。弗吉尼亚州是南部唯一向DACA持有者提供州内学费的州，然后将学费公平性扩大到该州高中毕业的所有无证件青年。通过调查，一个焦点小组以及与一个非营利组织的协调，我们能够对117名学生进行了调查，其中大多数人采取了推迟儿童到达行动（DACA）。我们得出结论，地方和州范围内的参与者，机构，弗吉尼亚州的网络和网络对于理解无证件青年获得高等教育的必要途径至关重要。但是，这些学生留在美国作为熟练工人和/或大学生的能力目前在联邦一级受到威胁，尤其是在消除DACA方面。