Lives in Limbo: Undocumented and Coming of Age in America

In "Lives in Limbo: Undocumented and Coming of Age in America," author Roberto G. Gonzales delves into the poignant realities faced by over two million undocumented immigrants who have grown up in the United States. Through his compelling twelve-year study of 150 young adults in Los Angeles, Gonzales paints a vivid ethnographic portrait that challenges the narrative of education as a straightforward path to success. The book contrasts the lives of "college-goers" like Ricardo, who despite academic achievements and community support ends up in low-wage labor, with "early-exiters" like Gabriel, who navigate through life with limited educational and professional openings. Published on December 8, 2015, and featuring insights relevant to the advocacy of social justice leader Jose Antonio Vargas, this book is a crucial read for college students studying immigrant rights, education equity, and economic justice. "Lives in Limbo" not only exposes the contradictions of an immigration system that educates children but fails to reward them as adults, but also invites readers to reflect on the deep-seated structural reforms needed to rectify these injustices.