The increasing number of undocumented immigrants coming to the United States has created serious socioeconomic, sociocultural, and socioeducational challenges for the communities in which these immigrants settle. Minors represent over 1.3 million of the 10.8 million unauthorized immigrants presently living in the United States. Given the secretive nature of this population, this literature review uses critical theory as a theoretical framework to highlight the inner workings of the political structures impeding undocumented youth from legalizing their status and contributing fully to American society by attending college and obtaining higher paying jobs. Presently, no matter how hard these youths try to assimilate into their communities, their unauthorized status forever brands them as violators of the law, even if the decision to enter the United States was not theirs to make. This review calls upon policymakers to mobilize and create pathways leading to educational access, legalization, and full participation in American democracy for undocumented youth. (Contains 5 footnotes.)