Undocumented Student Support: Knowing Our Facts
Some of the most vulnerable members of UMD's campus community are imperiled by intensifying anti-immigrant attitudes which are often fueled by misinformation and precarity. This repository aims to correct misperceptions and empower advocates for immigrant rights. You will find reliable information regarding policies, support services for immigrants, advocacy resources and organizations, and empirical information regarding history and impacts of immigrants in the United States.
CGMS's mission is to foster scholarship and promote understanding of migration and migrant lives. If you have questions or suggestions of additional resources, please contact us at globalmigration@umd.edu.
8 Things You Can Do To Support Undocumented Students
Immigrant Resources
Know the Policies
In 2021, the Maryland State Legislature passed multiple policies pertaining to immigration. These included policies prohibiting the State or any local jurisdiction from entering into agreements facilitating immigration-related detention by private entities; prohibiting governmental entities from entering into certain agreements to house immigration-related detainees; prohibiting a law enforcement agent from performing certain acts, subject to certain exceptions; requiring governmental entities to terminate existing contracts for the detention of immigration-related detainees by October 1, 2022. There are currently several sanctuary jurisdictions in Maryland - Limits upon use of detainers
This 2015 list links to actual policies across the country. The Maryland Immigrant Rights Coalition (MIRC) offers definitions of ‘sanctuary’ as well as direct links to policies around the state of Maryland. Find some of this information copied from MIRC’s website below.
- “Prince George’s County does not honor detainers without a valid warrant.
- Takoma Park does not assist in immigration-related investigations or arrests; prohibits city officials “from assisting federal officials with the investigation and arrest of any person for civil or criminal violations,” promotes non-discrimination, and prohibits sharing immigration-related information with third parties except as required by law.
- Washington DC only complies with detainers where the individual was convicted of certain violent crimes.
- Montgomery County requires a warrant before honoring a detainer.
- Baltimore City honors detainers only in compliance with DHS’s own stated priorities for immigration enforcement (generally, more serious crimes)
- For more Maryland jurisdictions, please see this report from the ACLU of Maryland, with links to the relevant documents”
American Immigration Council offers state fact sheets, which provide specific immigrant related data and information about states throughout the country. Their interactive data map allows users to filter information about immigrants through national, state, country, metro area, and district lenses. Below are direct links to AIC’s DC, Maryland, and Virginia fact sheets.
Birthright Citizenship: What It Is and Why We Need to Preserve It
The Migration Policy Institute is a non-partisan think tank dedicated to migration policy research. It produces fact-based reports and evaluations of migrant flow patterns, current migration policies and trends, develops new migration related policies and offers a space of dialogue. Their work focuses on North America and Europe, but stretches globally.
The Immigrant Defense Project has created fliers and training so that affected people might learn how to handle situations with ICE and detainers within their rights.
Actions You Can Take
How Campuses Can Prepare to Support Undocumented Students & Safeguard their Data in Higher Education
5 Ways Campuses Can Support Non-Citizen Students and Employees Post-Election
Undoc students UMD Opportunity Fund raise money for immediate UMD student needs and for DACA and work permit renewals for asylees. The funds help to provide rapid response resources, emergency funding, legal fees, and other critical areas of support to undocumented students at the University of Maryland. There have been no donations since 2023 – please circulate!
Donate to the Terp Dream Crisis Fund: “supports undocumented students facing crisis situations. While our resources are limited, we strive to assist students with a variety of urgent needs, including legal support, housing assistance, health and well-being resources, and transportation assistance.”
Worth Fighting For is a project dedicated to hosting community gatherings and providing toolkits for community organization. They host frequent meetings and offer a space for you to host your own.
President’s Alliance - Webinar Recording and Resources: Post-Election Briefing on Higher Education and Immigration. (This is one example of the type of resources the President's Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration offers. They host regular, useful webinars, post fact sheets, and offer space for discussion)
The Congregation Action Network is a network that operates at the national, state, and local levels to advocate for government policies that support equal rights regardless of immigration status. Their advocacy page provides current opportunities / bills that need advocacy.
Legal and Financial Resources
UMD's information on financial resources
General Info on Residency Reclassification
- Important note from the Immigrant and Undocumented Student Life office: “It is crucial for undocumented students to know that the majority of undocumented students are considered out - of state- when accepted into UMD even if a student has in-county costs for their community college. This is important to note since out of state will mean that you will be charged out-of-state tuition rates unless you are able to qualify to adjust your status to in-state."
- Non resident Tuition Differential Exemption (Maryland DREAM Act)
Contact an Immigration Lawyer if you want to know more about your immigration options. At the University of Maryland, College Park the Graduate and Undergraduate Legal Aid Office offers 30 minute monthly consultations with an immigration lawyer.
CASA - Maryland Legal Services
CASA - Citizenship Application Assistance Program in Maryland for Permanent Residents
If in contact with the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) please contact your immigration attorney and read the rights you have beforehand
- United We Dream - Know Your Rights fact sheet
- National Immigrant Justice Center - Know Your Rights if you Encounter ICE
- National Immigration Law Center - Know Your Rights Under the U.S. Constitution – No Matter Who Is President
The American Immigration Lawyers Association can help those in need find an immigration lawyer. Note that the consultations provided by UMD are not actual legal representation, so resources like this one could be very useful when searching for concrete representation.
Ayuda has a local immigration law team
Correcting Myths About Immigrants
Myths being spread about immigrants and undocumented people are harmful and cause divides not only on our campus but throughout the country. Many of the myths currently in place are rooted in misinformation. Below are links to learn more about some of the misconceptions about immigrant populations and how they harm our community.
Below are some examples of Immigration Myths and their rebuttals taken from the American Action Forum. You can find this information in an infographic linked here from May 2021. For an elaborated version of this information, click here.
"The United States doesn't need more immigration: Native birth rates are below the replacement level. No immigration means a smaller population, fewer workers, and a shrinking economy.
Limiting legal immigration will help the economy: Immigrants boost consumption, raise productivity, create jobs, and pay taxes - often at rates higher than native workers.
Immigration threatens to bankrupt social security and the social safety net: More immigration would create more payroll and more payroll taxes - ultimately delaying Social Security's financial difficulties.
Immigrants are taking jobs and lowering wages: For every 100 high-skilled immigrants, 183 jobs are created for the native born. For every 100 new low-skilled immigrants, 464 jobs are created for the native born."
Further resources:
Debunking the Myth of Immigrants and Crime
Five Myths About Immigration: Common Misconceptions Underlying U.S. Border-Enforcement Policy
Guidebooks and Toolkits
Immigrant and Undocumented Student Life Office
While CGMS is dedicated to providing support to immigrant students, faculty, staff, and community members, there are also other systems of support in place across campus. The Immigrant and Undocumented Student Life Office provides distinct support to immigrant and undocumented students on UMD's campus. Their website holds information regarding immigrant student life, opportunities, advice, platforms for community building, and more. We highly encourage visiting their website and contacting their office for further information and support.
Immigrant and Undocumented Student Life Program