Mitzia's research examines whether and how legalization affects the self-concept, relationships, and involvement in the immigrant justice movement of formerly undocumented people.

For undocumented people, identity and self is intertwined with the legal and social. Her research considers this and asks, what happens to the relationships and identities of undocumented people when they undergo the process of legalization?

As a formerly undocumented researcher, Mitzia understands that law and legal changes have the power to name and change identities and relationships.  To uncover the impacts of legalization, she is conducting interviews with adults who have benefited from a legal remedy that guaranteed a green card and/or U.S. citizenship. All participants must be 18 years old or older, formerly undocumented (e.g., green card holders or naturalized U.S. citizens), and must have been present in the United States for at least 5 years following arrival.