Meet third-year undergraduate researcher Danielle Efrat!

Daniella Efrat majors in Political Science and minors in Public Affairs and Labor Studies and is in our Undergraduate Research Fellows Program (URFP). The title of her project is “Immigration Related Retaliation Facing Undocumented Low-Income Workers: An Archival Review.” She hopes to shed light on an under researched topic and aid scholars and policymakers in understanding the experiences of undocumented workers. Her best piece of advice is to reach out to professors and students doing research in your field of interest!

How did you first get interested in your research project?

In 2020, I interned at the California Labor Commissioner’s Wage Unit, a unit that ensures that workers are getting paid what they were promised by their employers. Many of the claimants I interacted with were undocumented and expressed hesitance to go forward with their wage claim. They were afraid because their employer threatened to retaliate against them by calling immigration authorities if they were to assert a claim. Despite the fact that it is illegal in California to retaliate against undocumented employees, many claimants still expressed this fear.  I became interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the profile and experiences of these claimants by conducting an archival study of all immigration-related retaliation wage claims in California since 2013.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

I have very much enjoyed analyzing the data and identifying trends to aid me in developing a main narrative for my study.

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

I have been surprised by how individually driven the research process is. The success of your research depends on how much you are willing to put into it. I enjoy the independence of research, and I have found that I am much more motivated to work on my research project because I know it is something that reflects my efforts.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

Reach out to professors and students doing research in your field of interest! While it may seem intimidating, you might be surprised how many people are willing to share tips and their experiences with those who are interested.

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

My research project is the first archival study examining immigration-related retaliation claims in California. I hope that my research will shed light on an under-researched topic and aid scholars and policymakers in understanding the experiences of undocumented workers to help them conceptualize better policies to address these problems.