Laura E. Enriquez

Laura E. Enriquez is an Associate Professor of Chicano/Latino Studies at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and Director of the Center for Liberation, Anti-racism, and Belonging (C-LAB). Her research focuses on the educational, political, and social experiences of undocumented young adults and mixed-status families, with a particular emphasis on the structural impacts of immigration policies. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from UCLA.

Her work examines how legal vulnerabilities affect family formation, mental health, academic performance, and political engagement among marginalized communities. Key contributions include her award-winning book Of Love and Papers, which explores the intersection of immigration policies and family dynamics, and her forthcoming book on family legal vulnerability among Latino college students. Dr. Enriquez leads major research initiatives like the Undocumented Student Equity Project and the UC Collaborative to Promote Immigrant and Student Equity.

Her research has been supported by prestigious fellowships, including the Ford Foundation and National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowships. She actively advocates for undocumented students through programs like the Scholar-in-Residence initiative at UCI’s Dream Center and serves as faculty advisor for the Marco A. Firebaugh House, an on-campus community for undocumented students.

Dr. Enriquez’ work bridges academia and activism, translating research into policy briefs, institutional reports, and op-eds to influence public discourse. Her awards include UCI’s 2020 Distinguished Early-Career Faculty Award for Research.