Thread containing advice for first-year (or in general) undocumented students, particularly for those without DACA or anything else that provides you with a work permit and SSN.

Disclaimer: I am not a social worker, counselor, or anything on that line. I am a student on their final year who has learned a lot for the past four years on how to survive (and to some extent thrive) in undergrad while undocumented.

For context: my school is a large public university in NYC, where the overwhelming majority of students commute. It is also super diverse in comparison to PWIs, and the political environment leans progressive. Your school will likely not be the same, so adapt info accordingly.

1) Do not assume your classroom is a safe space. Even if your professor is explicitly pro-immigrant, your classmates may not be. There are many, MANY more n*zis in undergrad than you think.

If you're in a class that touches the topic of immigration, whether it's throughout the semester or just one unit, do not feel pressured to come out as undocu or educate others. If you can and want to, go ahead, but not everyone is ready or obligated to do so.

If your classmates (or professor) are spouting anti-immigrant bullshit, feel free to step out for a moment or even leave the class for the day.

Talk to the professor, and advisor, or anyone you trust about what happened (either to vent/process or to take action).

2) Clubs are a tricky situation. Cultural/affinity clubs can strengthen your appreciation for your heritage but they may not be pro-immigrant. Political clubs are often dominated by white/white adjacent ppl who, even if well-intentioned, may not understand you at all.

Even clubs whose main purpose is to advocate or create community for undocumented students may completely ignore or intentionally exclude non-DACA folks. Definitely go out there and try different places but don't let your guard down.

If you join a place that only minimally supports undocumented folks, advocate for yourself and don't let them silence you. Keep in mind that you can leave at any time, especially if they keep ignoring non-DACA folks or any other marginalized population. They don't own you.

If you and a few others come together to form an undocu-led club bc there's a vacuum, kudos to you. The work is hard but also rewarding. Research, both within your school and online, what makes for a successful undocu-led club.

That said, know that clubs die all the time, especially when there's no institutional support. Don't feel guilty if yours does.

3) If your tuition&fees or other school-related expenses aren't covered, @immigrantsrise publishes a master list of undocu-friendly scholarships yearly. http://www.mydocumentedlife.org  is another good resource for this.

Many scholarships are open to students already enrolled in school.

Ask your school/department/advising program about internal scholarships (open only to student within your school). Often times there are many.

Of course, not all may be open to undocu folks, but I've found internal scholarships to be the most likely source of funding for me.

4) Related to scholarships, there are other ways to receive funding. I'm talking mainly internship/fellowship/research opportunities.

You may not be able to apply for a paid internship or research experience but sometimes a department/program will fund unpaid opportunities.

Funding/stipends for unpaid internships or research is not always open to us (as usual), so it's a good idea to go outside your dept/program because funding may come from any place (i.e. the Pre-Law program at my school couldn't fund my paralegal internship but Human Rights did).

Internal funding is limited and is sometimes first-come-first-served, so you should research as soon as you declare your major (or earlier!)

This is always a plus because aside from $$$ it also means experience to build your skills and resume.

6) I don't know much about this since I commute to campus, but some schools/scholarships fund one summer semester during your undergrad, sometimes even including housing. It's rare, but it's worth checking out (especially if you need distance from home/your family).

5) If you've never consulted with an attorney regarding options for relief, ask your advisor or someone you trust about legal resources your school may have. It might lead you nowhere or it might not. I think it's worth a try, especially if you don't have to pay.

6) There's usually a health and wellness center on campus. It's often included as part of your tuition and therefore their services don't cost any extra money to you. Check it out and take care of yourself.

Even if they can only see you temporarily or refer you out, they can help you find a free or (most likely) low cost clinic/health center.

I found the clinic I currently go to thanks to an advisor and I couldn't be more thankful for the medical care I receive there.

They're likely fully equipped to treat low-level emergencies, especially if your campus is away from a population center. Again, their services are most likely at no additional cost to you.

I think I'm done here. Feel free to add any other advice you can think of and/or drop your questions.

Folks are retweeting this again. If you are an undocu student, please know that I wrote this thread in 2019, before we had any idea that the pandemic would happen, so some pieces of advice will not be as relevant anymore. https://twitter.com/SadQueerProle/status/1171253992942395392?s=19

The main thing that I will say is to apply to as many sources of emergency funding as possible and, if it's safe, don't hesitate to mention your immigration status. There's places that prioritize those who couldn't get stimulus funds or unemployment, and you *deserve* that help.