Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

Citizens Of Heaven Political Participation Of Undocumented Americans, Emily J. Erickson

eJournal of Public Affairs

Everyday life for undocumented Americans often entails coping with the fear, stress, and anxiety of potential deportation (Valenzuela & Erickson 2015; Fussell 2011). Yet despite this troubling emotional state, undocumented Americans are increasingly taking to the streets, social media, and the halls of government demanding their rights be upheld. This paper contributes to understandings of how the political participation of Undocumented Americans occurs in spite of the barriers this group faces. Through a comparative analysis of Catholic Parishes in Los Angeles and Albuquerque, I find that a sense of belonging and expanded opportunities to participate in political and civic activities …