Between Borders: Legal Limbo and Educational Access
Abstract
This project explores the concept of liminal legality as a social determinant of higher education outcomes, drawing inspiration from scholarship on racialized legal status as a determinant of health. Liminal legality challenges binary categorizations of documented and undocumented immigration, exposing the reality of the gray areas within the immigration system that impact access to resources and institutional support. Focusing on barriers such as financial need, academic distractions, limited mental health services, and insufficient postgraduate preparation, this project foregrounds systemic educational barriers. Through a zine, I highlight the stories of students navigating higher education while in legal limbo by presenting qualitative interviews, a literature review, and autoethnographic reflections. I hope this project can serve as a resource for students and a call to action for institutions, especially amid shifting political climates.