Undocumented Migration

The advocacy dimension of many of the texts examined in this book relates to the lives of people who struggle to obtain proper documentation and access to citizenship. This is the focus of this chapter which centres on two memoirs by writers who are so-called Dreamers and arrived as undocumented children in the United States: Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen (2018) by Jose Antonio Vargas and The Undocumented Americans (2021) by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio. The two memoirs hope to bring attention to those undocumented and their insurmountable difficulties in gaining permanent residence and/or citizenship. Vargas offers his personal story as part of the work he does for greater awareness about migrants and their lives, and Cornejo Villavicencio, in addition to her autobiographical account, interviews day labourers who work without papers and access for example to health care. Both memoirs also work to highlight the impossible choices those undocumented may be left with, and to call for responsibility for the lives of people who live on the margins of society. Responsibility is placed on American authorities, legislation, and on attitudes towards migrants.