Holding the title as one of the most diverse universities in the country is something to be proud of — but it’s important to provide resources to support such an accolade. The Undocumented Student Program and The Intersection are just two of many initiatives that are here to help.
They provide first-generation students and students of color with the resources for successful academic careers. They also hold events to help empower and show support for the UNLV community of undocumented students — or students who are immigrants residing in the United States without legal status or come from mixed-status families.
Meet the mentors and staff who are part of the Undocumented Student Program.
What is the Undocumented Student Program?
The program gives undocumented students resources and builds a community for them. We do a lot of one-on-one appointments with current UNLV students who need support due to their immigration status, and we also meet with prospective students to help them navigate the process of going to school.
Tell us more about your experiences as a college student.
I was a student at Nevada State College, and that's where I got my bachelor’s degree in communications. I am a DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] recipient, so going through college as an undocumented individual definitely had its challenges, but having those support systems was really important to me. I’m really glad I'm able to be in this role at UNLV and provide that support system for our students here.
What are some of the challenges you face?
For me, once I started thinking about college was when those barriers started to come up. I remember sitting down with my high school advisor and asking what college looks like for an undocumented individual because, up until then, I didn't know anyone who had done that before. Thanks to my advisor I was able to learn that U.S. citizenship wasn’t required for any of the NSHE institutions, so enrolling wasn’t an issue.
After that, it was just a matter of what financial aid I could get, and there was definitely more than what I had expected. I thought that because I didn’t qualify for applying through the FAFSA form that I wouldn't be able to get any financial aid, which wasn’t the case. I also didn’t have to worry about how I would be able to pay for my tuition and fees thanks to the Dream.Us scholarship, which is a scholarship that UNLV is partnered with now.
Do you have any advice for other students who are in a similar situation?
Get engaged with the communities we have on campus.
The Undocumented Student Program is very inclusive. We are open to undocumented students, those who are in between adjusting their status, or those who have family members who are undocumented immigrants, as well. We can definitely connect them with different resources, and they can always engage with the programs that we have throughout the semester like To Immigrants With Love.
I would also suggest getting involved with the Undocu Network, which is a registered student organization on campus led by other undocumented students and allies.
Why did you choose UNLV?
I’m from the United States, but I was born in Germany. I grew up in an Air Force family, so I moved around a lot. When I settled here with my family, UNLV was always something that I thought was just too expensive and too crazy, so when I got out of high school, I tried CSN. Within my first semester of coming to UNLV, it felt so much more like a whole community, and I really loved the melting pot of people that came with it. Post-COVID, it felt so good to have that kind of community again.
Why did you get involved with this organization?
I have always loved The Intersection, but a lot of people don't know about it. It's like a little well-kept secret here on campus. The Intersection is a multicultural academic resource center for students on campus, so we do a lot of work with the first-generation students program as well as the Undocumented Student Program. I think having that support and knowing you have support regardless of your situation can make a big impact, so even if that affects just one person that we come across, that makes it all worth it for me. It feels good to be able to give back and advocate for people.
How did moving countries at a young age impact your perspective?
I am an American citizen, but having been born abroad, I never really had a place to call home until I was about six or seven years old. That was out of my control, and I can only imagine from my minute perspective of how that felt. I don't want people to have to feel alone who might be experiencing that. If we can provide something for people to feel a little bit of comfort then that makes me feel better. Personally, if I can help, then that is great, and I want to connect them with people who can help, as well.
Do you have any advice for undocumented students trying to navigate college?
One: Advocate for yourself.
Two: Know what you are able to do and know your resources. Surround yourself with other people who are willing to advocate for and work with you. I think that would just be the biggest thing to know. That you aren't alone and to also know you have people all around you on both sides.
Would you like to include anything else?
There are resources that you’re not aware of. Everyone can learn about one new resource every week on campus. If you have an interest or a question, there are people who can help you. I’m a mentor here at The Intersection, and we just want to help you succeed and connect you with resources.
Why did you get involved with this program?
I’ve always been connected to the undocumented community, so being able to do something like this has always been on my to-do list. My parents are immigrants, and they had to go through challenges, so I experienced that throughout my childhood. I know how difficult that can be, so it's always been my interest to give back to that community and help out. I’ve been able to do that through USP. Being undocumented is already hard enough, plus [there's all the usual] difficulties students have in general. It can be a big load for them, so it's great to be able to help them.
Do you have any advice for undocumented students trying to navigate college?
My first piece of advice is to come to the USP. We have multiple resources that can assist in connecting you with organizations that can help. For example, we have the UNLV Immigration Clinic at the Boyd School of Law that is a great help to get you on the pathway to citizenship if that's a possibility, or if you need help with doctrine rules. That's a free service.
The USP also gets you connected to the community of undocumented students here and that helps you know that you’re not alone in this journey.
Describe your experience at UNLV in one word.
Fulfilling. Because of the opportunities I’ve been able to take advantage of and seeing what UNLV is able to provide for its students.
