Our Approaches

Our Approach

U.S. Africa Institute employs a multi-faceted strategy that addresses the interconnected challenges facing immigrant, refugee, international, and underrepresented students and their families through systemic change and institutional transformation.

Systemic and Institutional Engagement

We work directly with institutional leaders, policymakers, and administrators to embed sustainable policies, practices, and resources within higher education institutions and government agencies. Rather than providing temporary solutions, we focus on creating lasting infrastructure that continues to support underrepresented communities long after our initial engagement.

Capacity Building and Training

We provide comprehensive training and technical assistance to institutional leaders, faculty, staff, and government agencies. Our capacity-building programs equip stakeholders with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to effectively support immigrant, refugee, international, and underrepresented students and their families.

Coalition Building and Organizing

We convene and coordinate a national coalition of higher education institutions, government agencies at all levels, and community organizations. Through strategic partnerships and collective action, we amplify our impact and create coordinated responses to systemic challenges facing underrepresented student populations.

Policy Advocacy

We advocate for just and equitable policies at institutional, local, state, and federal levels. Our policy work is informed by community needs and grounded in the lived experiences of the underrepresented students and families we serve.

Community-Centered Solutions

We center the voices and experiences of immigrant, refugee, international, and underrepresented students and their families in all our work. Our programs and initiatives are designed in partnership with communities, ensuring they are responsive, culturally relevant, and effective.

Intersectional Framework

We recognize that higher education, immigration justice, and international education are deeply interconnected systems. Our approach addresses these intersections holistically, creating comprehensive solutions that acknowledge the complexity of the challenges our underrepresented communities face.

Strategic Partnerships

We partner with HBCUs, community colleges, universities, governmental agencies, and community-based organizations to leverage collective expertise and resources. These partnerships enable us to scale our impact and create sustainable change across multiple institutions and underrepresented communities. 

Policy Priority Areas

U.S. Africa Institute focuses on key policy areas to advance equity in immigration and higher education for Black immigrant, undocumented, refugee, and international students:

• Equitable Access to Higher Education: We advocate for policies like the Dream Act of 2023 (S. 365), which provides a pathway to permanent residency for Dreamers pursuing higher education, and state-level measures like Arizona’s Proposition 308 (2022), which grants in-state tuition to undocumented students. We oppose restrictive policies, such as the Department of Education’s 2025 notice limiting undocumented students’ access to dual enrollment programs.
• Immigration Protections: We support legislation like the Dignity Act of 2025 (H.R. 4393), which offers permanent non-immigrant status for undocumented immigrants, including those in higher education. We also advocate for protections against visa revocations and SEVIS-related challenges for international students, as highlighted by the Presidents’ Alliance in April 2025.
• Professional Licensure Access: We push for policies like New York’s Empire State Licensing Act (S. 1086/A. 675), which ensures undocumented students can obtain occupational licenses, particularly in fields like medicine, to support initiatives like our Black Medical Education Project.
• Community and Economic Equity: We work to counter restrictive state laws, such as Florida’s SB 1718, which limit access to healthcare and driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants, and promote resources like the Higher Ed Immigration Portal’s FAFSA Resource Hub for mixed-status families.
• Global Academic Collaboration: We advocate for policies that facilitate international student mobility and exchange programs, such as the Dignity Act’s “dual intent” provision for student visa holders, to strengthen U.S.-Africa academic partnerships. Through these priorities, we aim to create a more inclusive and equitable policy landscape that uplifts Black immigrant communities and fosters their academic and professional success. Policy Priority Areas

  U.S. Africa Institute focuses on key policy areas to advance equity in immigration and higher education for Black immigrant, undocumented, refugee, and international students: