Can Universities Counteract Immigrant Illegality? Examining the Impact of University-Based Institutional Support on Undocumented College Students

Abstract

Research has established that federal-, state-, and local-level policies affect undocumented immigrants’ experiences in the United States. Some of this work suggests that university-level policies can affect the experiences of undocumented students, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Drawing on 55 in-depth interviews with undocumented college students in southern California, the author finds that university-level policies designed to help undocumented students create networks of support that provide resources and opportunities to students who face immigration status–related issues on college campuses. Findings demonstrate that the implementation of targeted programming and services can help undocumented students feel more supported on their campus; however, even in the presence of support and resources, a restrictive federal climate continues to negatively affect the everyday lives of these students. This study contributes to current scholarly and public discourse on how universities can intervene in federal exclusionary immigrant legislation.