School Counselors and Knowledge of Immigrant Policy: Variation by Location and Voter Preference

ABSTRACT We investigate factors of immigrant policy implementation in schools, focusing on the role of school counselors in shaping access to higher education for undocumented students. Using a survey of 266 public high school counselors in New York and Pennsylvania, we assessed their knowledge of state laws affecting undocumented students' access to higher education. We find that there are significant differences among counselors based on their state of residence, whether they work in rural or urban areas, and voters' preferences in their county. Results provide evidence of the lasting power of immigrant gateways in delivering the services needed for immigrant bureaucratic incorporation.