Ways to Support Undocumented Students
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Know Your Rights & How to Be an Ally
Barriers
- Lack of financial aid places the entire burden of tuition on the students and their families and further delays the transition to post-secondary education and forces students to make multiple “stop-outs” along the road to complete their college degree.
- Restrictions on federal and state financial aid make access to a higher education and completing post-secondary education incredibly arduous.
- 由于孤立和长期担心被驱逐出境，许多无证学生患抑郁症和焦虑症的心理健康风险增加。
- Undocumented students are often referred to as “illegal aliens” thus dehumanizing them and making them feel more like a stereotype and an issue, rather than actual human being.
- 许多职业道路需要社会保障，这阻碍了无证学生追求他们真正热爱的职业领域。
- Undocumented individuals often get stuck with jobs at or below the minimum wage since higher-paying employment opportunities are not available to them.
- Increased family responsibilities such as younger siblings and financially supporting their families compromise the amount of study time undocumented students have, making it more difficult to succeed academically.
- 身份混合的家庭往往导致无证学生对自己和其他家庭成员有复杂的情绪。
- Undocumented students face trauma as they have flashbacks of their unique experiences of the passage into the U.S.
Ways to Support Undocumented Students
- Serve as a listening ear as undocumented students share their stories with you.
- Do not pressure students to reveal their status – they will do so when there is an established sense of trust.
- 不要感到抱歉——相反，要成为解决问题的人。
- Attend trainings and listen to student panels to gain insight into students’ experiences and learn how to best support undocumented students.
- Refer students to internal and external resources that are inclusive and supportive.
- Become an ally.