Drawing from a qualitative dataset of 41 in-depth interviews with undocumented immigrant entrepreneurs in California and 819 applications to a state-funded entrepreneurship grant program, we investigate why individuals marginalized by legal and social barriers pursue entrepreneurship despite its inherent risks. While existing research highlights the economic motivations and consequences of entrepreneurship, the role of social status motivations and implications remains underexplored. Our study addresses this gap by examining how social status shapes entrepreneurial activity among undocumented immigrants. Findings reveal that undocumented immigrants use entrepreneurship to engage in the process of “immigrant status overriding,” employing it to counteract stigma, gain social recognition, and earn respect within their communities and broader society. Organizational support and access to resources are critical enablers of this process, while participants’ motivations transcend economic survival, reflecting a profound desire for dignity and social status. By framing entrepreneurship as both an economic and socially transformative activity, this study contributes to the literature on marginalized entrepreneurship, social mobility, and status characteristics theory.
