Supporting Undocumented Students During Uncertain Times

By My Undocumented Life on October 10, 2024 • ( 0 )

By CAROLINA

Undocumented students are presently contending with heightened levels of uncertainty in light of the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential elections. This is in addition to grappling with the ongoing instability of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) federal program which has been in limbo since the Trump administration threatened to terminate the program in 2017. This post is geared towards offering a set of recommendations that educators, counselors, and administrators can adopt to better support undocumented students during these uncertain times.

Recommendations for educators & counselors

Accompany undocumented students through the process of learning about resources

It can be overwhelming for undocumented students to know where to begin their search, figure out who might know the answer, or determine whether it is safe to share information about their status with someone or not. Educators can help in this regard by accompanying students through the process, and when a student asks, to help ask questions on their behalf, do additional research, or connect them with the appropriate (and trusted) person. In the process, it is important to recognize that you do not need to be an expert in immigration law or have all of the answers as it pertains to the legal landscape and resources. Often, it is helpful to simply say, “I don’t know, but let’s look into it together.”

Share information about resources with undocumented students

Additional resources here

If a student approaches you about issues pertaining to funding, food, transportation, or another type of resource, you may consider referring them to the following sites:

My Undocumented Life for up-to-date information and resources including scholarship opportunities open to undocumented students (in high school, college, or grad school), updates on DACA, advance parole programs, information about grad school, and much more.

UndocuBasic Needs Project for resources related to food, legal services, transportation, physical health, mental health, career guidance, and grad school.

Immigrants Rising for information about scholarship opportunities, entrepreneurship, DACA renewals, and more.

United We Dream for resources related to mental health, DACA, and calls to action.

New York State Youth Leadership Council for resources related to college, grad school, entrepreneurship, and more.

Organize support groups

Organizations like Immigrants Rising and Dream Resource Centers like CSUSM’s are facilitating support groups for undocumented young adults to connect with fellow undocumented folks, share their experiences and feelings, and build a sense of community. At your campus, consider organizing similar efforts that can be facilitated by trained professionals who are familiar with working closely with undocumented students.

Stay up-to-date with news about the election and immigration-related policy changes

As we near the 2024 U.S. presidential elections, there are likely to be many rumors and updates circulating. In an effort to stay informed, raise awareness about the plight of undocumented students, and share information about important policy updates as needed, it is helpful to keep up with the latest news on immigration and the election. When discussing policy updates with undocumented students, it is important to be mindful of the stress, anxiety, and fear that certain news may bring up. It is also key to follow students’ lead in terms of whether they would like to discuss such updates, have questions/concerns, or not.

Be mindful of the key role that young adults play in their family

Young adults often play a key role in protecting and supporting their family. This includes, for example, searching for trustworthy immigration-related legal advice, finding resources, staying up-to-date with news media coverage on immigration, or providing emotional support. Many are also helping their family financially, with rides, or with translating. These are responsibilities that require substantial time and energy on the part of young adults. As an educator or counselor, it is important to both recognize the role that young adults are playing in their family, as well as help lift some of the weight off their shoulders by, for example, assisting them with finding resources, referring them to trusted immigration lawyers (as needed/requested), or organizing events that they and their families may find beneficial (such as Know Your Rights workshops, emergency preparedness discussions, policy updates).

Recommendations for administrators

Support efforts to bring together undocumented students

There are important efforts underway to organize immigration-related events across campuses by undocumented students and their allies either as part of organizations or centers. These events include healing circles, know your rights workshops, undocually trainings, social gatherings, resource fairs, undocumented student alumni panels, and more. These events are crucial for raising awareness about the unique set of challenges that undocumented students are confronting, as well as to help foster a sense of community among students who are undocumented or U.S.-born from mixed-status families (where at least one member is undocumented). The type of support that students and allies leading these efforts may need will vary so it is important to check in first with those organizing the event. In general, support may come in the form of funding, providing a safe space on campus, or being present.

Assist in efforts to foster a safe space

Relatedly, there are efforts underway across the country to create and sustain safe learning environments for undocumented students. For example, undocumented students are leading on-campus organizations, and educators, counselors, and staff members are communicating to students that they are trusted allies. Some schools are also creating Dreamer Resource Centers or Undocumented Student Services Programs that are specifically geared towards serving undocumented students, or U.S.-born citizens whose parents are undocumented. As an administrator, a helpful place to start may be to check-in with those leading efforts to support undocumented students to inquire about their current and emerging needs.

Dedicate funding towards alternative programs open to undocumented students (with or without DACA)

One of the biggest challenges undocumented students confront in their pursuit of higher education is that many of the scholarship, fellowship, internship, employment, and career-related opportunities otherwise available to college students have restrictions based on immigration status. This makes it difficult for undocumented students to secure funding for college and to acquire invaluable training that is specific to their career aspirations. Undocumented students are also ineligible for many types of federal assistance, including FAFSA, SNAP, and CalFresh, among others. There are schools that are thinking creatively about creating alternative programs and opportunities for undocumented students, among them are the “UndocuBruins Research Program” at UCLA, the “UndocuGrad Prep Program” at UCSB, and “Aggie Fresh” at UC Davis.

Establish an emergency fund for DACA renewal requests

Given the uncertainty surrounding DACA, it is imperative that those whose renewals are expiring within 4 to 5 months submit their renewal requests on time. Yet one of the biggest challenges for DACA recipients are the costs associated with the application. This includes the $605 in fees (if filing the paper form) or the $555 fees (if filing online). This is in addition to any costs that are associated with securing legal assistance or obtaining all necessary documents. To help students navigate the DACA renewal process, schools like Harvard provide legal assistance with filling out DACA renewal applications. Others like the California Community Colleges also provide financial assistance to help students cover the costs associated with their DACA renewal applications. Schools like Purdue also have a dedicated webpage to inform students about the latest updates surrounding DACA and where to find assistance on campus.

Additional Reading Recommendations

Whether you are an educator, counselor, or administrator, it is also important to be familiar with the experiences of undocumented students, including the set of challenges and limitations they face. The following is a list of reading recommendations with a particular emphasis as it relates to the uncertainty surrounding elections and DACA.

“Heightened Uncertainty and Determination: The ‘Trump Effect’ and College Aspirations for Undocumented Students” by Carolina Valdivia, Marisol Clark-Ibañez, Lucas Schacht, Juan Duran, and Sussana Mendoza

“Drawing on 24 in-depth interviews, we find that undocumented high school students experienced increased instances of bullying near the time of the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. Our respondents also worried about the growing uncertainty surrounding immigration policies and the future of DACA. This uncertainty shaped their plans; many students felt compelled to prioritize working and delay starting college to make use of their work permit while they had access to DACA and build emergency savings.”

“Unpacking Resilience and Trauma: Examining the ‘Trump Effect’ in Higher Education for Undocumented Latinx College Students” by Susana M. Muñoz, Darsella Vigil, Elizabeth Jach, and Marisela Rodriguez-Gutierrez

“Findings illuminate how colleges and universities need to reconceptualize the notion of resilience by addressing systemic racist nativism in higher education.”

“Exploring Undocumented Students’ Understandings of the Role of Higher Education during the Trump Era” by Karina Santellano

“This study serves as a way for institutions of higher education to learn how undocumented students perceive their roles and duties. At the end of this paper, the author suggests how colleges and universities can work towards mitigating legal violence in the lives of undocumented students.”

“Uncertainty About DACA May Undermine Its Positive Impact On Health For Recipients And Their Children” by Caitlin Patler, Erin Hamilton, Kelsey Meagher, and Robin Savinar

“Our results show that self-reported health improved for Latina/o DACA-eligible immigrants and their children from 2012 to 2015 but worsened after 2015. Our results suggest that the political climate of the 2016 presidential election may have underscored the politically contingent nature of the DACA program and eroded the program’s health benefits for eligible immigrants and their children.”

“The Long-Term Impact of DACA: Forging Futures Despite DACA’s Uncertainty” by Roberto G. Gonzales, Sayil Camacho, Kristina Brant, and Carlos Aguilar

“In this report, we illustrate the profound impact DACA has had on beneficiaries, their families, and their communities over the last seven years. We draw on data from the National UnDACAmented Research Project (NURP)—a longitudinal, national study launched in 2013 to understand how young people were experiencing their DACA status. Our respondents constitute a diverse sample of 408 DACA beneficiaries from six states, representing a vast array of racial, ethnic, economic, and educational backgrounds.”

“Psychological Impact, Strengths, and Handling the Uncertainty Among Latinx DACA Recipients” by Oswaldo Moreno, Lisa Fuentes, Isis García-Rodríguez, Rosalie Corona, and Germán A. Cardenas

“This qualitative study sheds light on the lived psychological experiences of 21 Latinx DACA recipients who were impacted by the political debates during the Trump administration. Content analysis revealed four main psychological impacts resulting from the DACA political debates: stress, fear, anxiety, and depressive symptomatology). Through these experiences, individuals who perceived being impacted by these political debates described three main strengths (i.e., luchando adelante, positive outlook, and DACA+ethnic pride) that assisted them.”

Also, consider checking out this list of recently published books on immigration, articles and books written by currently/formerly undocumented scholars, and these additional books on immigration.

Carolina grew up undocumented in the U.S. for over a decade. In 2011, she created My Undocumented Life as a platform for undocumented communities to obtain up-to-date information and resources on pursuing higher education, immigration policies, and much more. Carolina completed her PhD in Education at Harvard. She is currently writing a book about the consequences of interior enforcement on undocumented young adults and their families.

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