Higher Education and Immigration Project

U.S. Africa Institute’s Higher Education & Immigration Project champions the rights of undocumented, immigrant, refugee, international, and underrepresented students within U.S. higher education. We collaborate with higher education leaders and policymakers to implement institutional reforms and systemic changes that ensure equitable access to higher education for all students, regardless of immigration status.

Policy Advocacy & Systemic Reform

Our initiatives include advocating for inclusive campus policies, such as access to in-state tuition and financial aid for undocumented students, sanctuary campus protections, and institutional policies that safeguard student privacy and limit cooperation with immigration enforcement. We work directly with institutional leadership to develop and implement comprehensive policies that create welcoming, supportive environments for immigrant and refugee students.

Comprehensive Support Services

We provide extensive legal and academic support resources, including:

• Legal Support & Navigation: Direct legal service referrals, Know Your Rights workshops, immigration status consultations, and emergency response protocols for students and families facing immigration enforcement actions
• Academic Support Services: Tutoring, mentorship programs, academic advising tailored to the unique needs of immigrant students, and scholarship identification and application assistance
• Mental Health & Wellness Resources: Culturally responsive counseling services, trauma-informed support for students affected by immigration enforcement, and peer support networks
• Financial Aid Navigation: Assistance identifying alternative funding sources, scholarship opportunities for undocumented students, and guidance on navigating complex financial aid systems
• Career Development: Internship and employment guidance that addresses work authorization challenges, professional networking opportunities, and career pathway planning

Capacity Building & Training

We address systemic barriers like financial aid restrictions, discriminatory practices, and limited mental health services through targeted programs. These include:

• Professional Development Workshops: Comprehensive training for institutional leaders, faculty, staff, and administrators on the unique challenges faced by immigrant, refugee, and international students, including legal considerations, cultural competency, and trauma-informed practices
• Policy Implementation Support: Technical assistance to institutions developing or strengthening policies to support underrepresented students
• Best Practices Sharing: Facilitation of peer learning networks where institutions share successful strategies and lessons learned

Legal Clinics & Direct Services

We coordinate legal clinics in partnership with immigration attorneys and legal service providers to help students and families navigate immigration status issues, understand their rights, and access legal representation when needed. These clinics provide critical support for DACA renewals, family-based immigration petitions, asylum applications, and other immigration matters.

Coalition Building & Strategic Partnerships 

We build and coordinate coalitions of higher education institutions, including HBCUs, community colleges, and universities, along with community-based organizations and legal service providers. These partnerships create coordinated support networks that amplify our collective impact and ensure students have access to comprehensive resources across multiple institutions and communities.

Policy Monitoring & Advocacy

We actively monitor restrictive policies targeting Dreamers and DACA recipients at local, state, and federal levels, and advocate against such measures to ensure that all students can thrive regardless of their immigration status. Our advocacy work includes:

• Tracking and analyzing proposed legislation and executive actions
• Mobilizing coalition partners for coordinated advocacy responses
• Providing testimony and expert analysis to policymakers
• Organizing community education and mobilization campaigns
• Supporting litigation efforts when necessary to protect student rights

Research & Documentation

We document the experiences and challenges facing immigrant, refugee, international, and underrepresented students in higher education, producing research and data that inform policy advocacy and institutional practice. Our research helps make visible the systemic barriers these students face and demonstrates the impact of supportive policies and programs.