Presented in this symposium are the voices of immigrant Latino families in response to educational and immigration policy. Increasingly, the impact of political agendas have impacted immigrant families in Midwestern cities. This symposium is unique in its approach through the use of qualitative methodology. It is believed that sharing the experiences and details of families, can act as a catalyst for change. Evidence from this symposium detail how families interact within a system where policy negatively impacts the ways in which they interact with formal institutions. Despite these difficulties, the resiliency of families continues to overcome the odds.

Objectives

1) Examine the growth of state level immigration policy and local enforcement and their effects on Latino immigrant families in a small community in the Midwest during a time of rapid demographic change, economic instability, and a volatile political and social context. 2) Describe the educational experiences of Latino families after immigrating to the U.S. and supports their dreams for a better life. 3) Discuss the evolution of educational and immigrant based state and federal policies over the last 25 years and the positive and negatives effects that they have had on immigrant Latino families in the Midwest.