Undocumented students

We’re committed to ensuring all students, regardless of immigration status, can pursue and attain a world-class UC education.

Luis Mora

UC stands with its undocumented students

We believe all students have the right to live and study in a safe and welcoming environment. To that end, the university has adopted principles to vigorously protect the privacy and civil rights of undocumented members of our community. These measures are aimed at maintaining strict confidentiality about our community members’ status and safeguarding our students’ ability to pursue their education free from intimidation and fear.

Read our Statement of Principles (PDF)

Who are UC’s undocumented students?

The vast majority of UC’s undocumented students have lived in California for most of their lives. They go on to make our society stronger: as leaders and role models in their communities, as educators, health care providers, entrepreneurs and more.

Jirayut “New” Latthivongskorn
“First and foremost, I want to be a compassionate physician who has a relationship with his patients and really listens, and from there a doctor who is resourceful and persistent and won’t stop advocating to get them what they need.”

Jirayut “New” Latthivongskorn
UCSF M.D., ‘19, UC Berkeley, ‘12
Founder, Pre-health Dreamers
Forbes 30-under-30

Adriana Lopez Torres
“I want to make education better and more accessible for everyone. We just want to be free to give back in the country we know as home.”

Adriana Lopez Torres
UC Davis

Read her story

Student support

We are committed to the success of our undocumented students, and offer an array of resources to help these students thrive socially and academically during their time at UC.

Financial aid

The Dream Loan program provides aid to students who are not eligible for federal loan programs but who live in California and are eligible for in-state tuition under AB540.

Learn more about Dream Loans

Student services

Undocumented student centers on every campus offer specialized financial, academic and emotional support, as well as events and social opportunities.

Explore by campus

Legal advising 

Students on every campus are able to receive free undocumented legal services, including access to an attorney, consultation on legal rights and protections and assistance filing for applicable state and federal programs.

Access support at UC Berkeley and all other campuses

Defending DACA

UC is a staunch supporter of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the thousands of people who rely on its protections to live, work and study in the United States.

We went all the way to the Supreme Court – and won – when the Trump Administration tried to end DACA through an executive order in 2017. UC continues to ask Congress to permanently protect DACA recipients and to provide a path to citizenship for its recipients.

Learn more about our fight for DACA

Crowd holding signs in the air that say "Defend DACA"

Income generation options

There are many ways to earn a living through entrepreneurship regardless of your immigration status. This toolkit provides information  about independent contracting and business start-ups, as well as profiles of immigrant entrepreneurs to see real life examples of what people are doing. 

 Income generation options for undocumented students (PDF)

Know your rights

If you are concerned about facing immigration enforcement officers, you should prepare now. Do not wait until an encounter to think about how you will respond. The information here provides a starting point for your planning.

“Know Your Rights” downloadable card (PDF)