Uncovering Whiteness as Discourse - A Critical Discourse Analysis of the In-State Resident Tuition Debate for Undocumented Students in Texas

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by acoobca

Undocumented college students in the United States face structural barriers to postsecondary success, including unequal in-state resident tuition (ISRT) policies across states. Texas, the first state to establish ISRT benefits for undocumented students, has experienced persistent contention over the past two decades, including eight legislative attempts to repeal the affirmative policy. Using critical discourse analysis, the study examines implicit and explicit messages within policy and surrounding political discourse.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages25

Reading Time1 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

| education policy analysis archives
A peer-reviewed, independent, open access, multilingual journal |
Arizona State University | | --- | --- | | Volume 29 Number 52 April 19, 2021 ISSN 1068-2341 | | Uncovering Whiteness as Discourse: A Critical Discourse Analysis ofthe In-State Resident Tuition Debate for Undocumented Students in Texas Nicholas Tapia-Fuselier University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Veronica A. Jones & Clifford P. Harbour University of North Texas United States Citation: Tapia-Fuselier, N., Jones, V. A., & Harbour, C. P. (2021). Uncovering whiteness as discourse: A critical discourse analysis of the in-state resident tuition debate for undocumented students in Texas. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 29(52). [https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.29.5834](https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.29.5834) [Abstract:](Abstract: Undocumented college students in the United States encounter a number of)[ Undocumented college students in the United States encounter a number of](Abstract: Undocumented college students in the United States encounter a number of)[ ](Abstract: Undocumented college students in the United States encounter a number of)[structural barriers to postsecondary education success](structural barriers to postsecondary education success), [including](including) disparate in-state resident tuition (ISRT) policies across the country. Texas, the first state to establish ISRT benefits for undocumented college students, has been a site of tension respective to this issue over the last 20 years. In fact, there have been eight legislative attempts to repeal the state’s affirmative ISRT policy. In order to investigate this ongoing ISRT debate in Texas, we used critical discourse analysis methods to analyze the implicit and explicit messages communicated in the policy and surrounding policy discourse. Our conceptual framework, grounded in three constructs of critical whiteness studies including ontological expansiveness, color evasiveness, and individualization, allowed us to uncover whiteness asa pernicious undergirding force within this policy discourse. Keywords: undocumented students; in-state resident tuition; state policy; whiteness; Texas Descubriendo la blancura como discurso: Un análisis crítico del discurso del debate sobre el costo de la escuela para estudiantes indocumentados en Texas Resumen: Los estudiantes universitarios indocumentados en los Estados Unidos seencuentran con una serie de barreras estructurales para el éxito de la educación postsecundaria, incluyendo políticas para costos dispares para la escuela (ISRT) en todo el país. Texas, el primer estado en establecer beneficios de ISRT para estudiantes universitarios indocumentados, ha sido un sitio de tensión con respecto a este tema durante los últimos 20 años. De hecho, ha habido ocho intentos legislativos para derogarla política afirmativa de ISRT del estado. Con el fin de investigar este debate ISRT encurso en Texas, utilizamos métodos de análisis crítico del discurso para analizar los mensajes implícitos y explícitos comunicados en la política y el discurso político circundante. Nuestro marco conceptual, basado en tres constructos de estudios críticos dela blancura que incluyen la expansividad ontológica, la evasión del color y la individualización, nos permitió descubrir la blancura como una fuerza subyacente dentrode este discurso político. Keywords: estudiantes indocumentados; matrícula; política estatal; blancura; Texas Desvendando a brancura como discurso: Uma análise crítica do discurso do debate sobre o custo da escola para estudantes indocumentados no Texas Resumo: Estudantes universitários indocumentados nos Estados Unidos encontram umasérie de barreiras estruturais para o sucesso da educação pós-secundária, incluindo políticaspara custos díspares para a escola (ISRT) em todo o país. . O Texas, o primeiro estado aestabelecer benefícios ISRT para estudantes universitários indocumentados, tem sido um l

FAQs

What is the central issue addressed in the study?

The study examines the ISRT debate in Texas for undocumented students, focusing on how discourse shapes policy messages.

Which analytical method is used?

The study applies critical discourse analysis to interpret implicit and explicit meanings in the policy and related political discourse.

Why is Texas a key case for ISRT policy analysis?

Texas was the first state to offer ISRT benefits to undocumented students and has remained a site of tension, including multiple legislative attempts to repeal the policy.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by acoobca