The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 43, No. 3 - 95

Supporting Undocumented Students in Campus Housing

table engagement opportunities. This article
closes with information on best practices and
resources for serving undocumented students
at colleges and universities across the county.

CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS:
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS
AND HIGHER EDUCATION
It is critical to understand the political climate
and the policies, regulations, and laws impacting undocumented students' daily-lived
experiences. Since these impact the lives of
undocumented students, they also impact the
ways in which institutions and higher education professionals approach their support of
this population of students.
Time and time again, U.S. Congress has
introduced and re-introduced policies and
regulations that address the needs of undocumented individuals living in the United
States. Policies and regulations range from
access to health care, ability to serve in the
military, and access to higher education. The
inability of Congress to sufficiently support
comprehensive legislation is telling of broader
sentiments. After Congress was unsuccessful
in passing comprehensive immigration reform
that would address the needs of the more than
11 million undocumented individuals living
in the country, President Barack Obama took
matters into his own hands. Through his executive authority, in 2012 President Obama
created Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
(U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
2016; U.S. Department of Homeland Security,
2012). Among a number of items, this action
added additional protections for young individuals who were brought to the United States
as children (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration

Services, 2016; U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, 2012). The action provides young undocumented individuals a two-year temporary
relief from deportation; makes them eligible to
obtain a temporary Social Security Number and
makes them eligible for a number of state benefits; allows them to receive a temporary work
permit, which makes them eligible to legally
work in the country; and gives them eligibility
to request "Advance Parole" to travel outside
the United States under very specific circumstances (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services, 2016; U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, 2012). Additionally, the provision of a
social security number through DACA makes
students eligible for financial aid; however, the
educational benefits for DACA students varies
by state.
Lack of federal immigration policies and
regulations have permitted states to implement their own (National Conference of State
Legislatures, 2016). Not all states are open to
enrolling undocumented students, and three Arizona, Georgia, and Indiana - explicitly prohibit undocumented students from becoming
eligible to pay in-state tuition at their public

Not all states are open to enrolling
undocumented students, and three
- Arizona, Georgia, and Indiana explicitly prohibit undocumented
students from becoming eligible to
pay in-state tuition at their public
colleges and universities.
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The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 43, No. 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 43, No. 3