Undocumented Students from Mexico and State Policy Variation of Post-Secondary Education: Social and Economic Factors Affecting State Politics

Abstract

The goal of this study is to establish a greater understanding regarding variations of higher education policy implementation for undocumented students among the states in the United States. This thesis seeks to analyze the ways in which the following five independent variables affect state permissiveness of post-secondary education toward undocumented students: state partisanship; immigrant population per state (documented and undocumented); state proximity to the Mexican border; state access to welfare and social benefits; and the role of immigrant lobbying and advocacy groups.