Best Practices for Advising Undocumented Students
Do not use the term “illegal” or “alien.” Do not assume all students are DACA recipients.
1.
Instead: If you know a student or family member does not have legal status, use the term “undocumented” unless you know more about their status.
Do not seek information about a student or family’s immigration status specifically.
2.
Instead: Advise the student broadly of all options, and help them learn what they may qualify for (for example, walk through both FAFSA and CADAA with the student and allow them to assess which application they may be eligible for).
If a student discloses their status to you, do not avoid the conversation.
3.
Instead: Thank the student for sharing their immigration status with you. Reassure that the information will be confidential. Help the student understand all of the options that may be available to them.
Do not collect/record information about students’ immigration status. Do not share students’ status with coworkers without explicit consent.
4.
Instead: Emphasize that the advising session is completely confidential. Seek permission from the student before asking for help from someone else.
Do not expect the student to understand their immigration status.
5.
Instead: Assess eligibility for specific programs by walking the student through each criteria (for example, review the criteria for qualifying for both FAFSA and CADAA so the student can determine which application they may be eligible for).
Do not pressure the student to answer questions about their and their family’s immigration status.
6.
Instead: Let the student lead the conversation. Emphasize that the student does not have to answer any questions that they are not comfortable with. Inform them that the conversation will remain completely confidential.