The day after the 2024 presidential election, an undocumented UT student, who will further be referred to as Jane, woke up and cried. She knew what Donald Trump had promised with a second term: sweeping immigration policies that could risk her and her family members’ safety.
When school began in January, Jane was still afraid. She skipped a week’s worth of classes before warily returning to her routine — but not without changes.
“I had to start carrying around my passport, all forms of identification,” Jane said. “I’m just here to try to get my degree and become another working citizen like everyone else is.”
The Trump administration issued a series of immigration policy changes in January, rescinding protections for undocumented students from immigration enforcement actions. That same month, Gov. Greg Abbott directed state agencies to assist federal immigration authorities in enforcing state and national policies. In response, students like Jane have turned toward nontraditional student organizations for support.
Support for undocumented students in Texas was first directly affected a year prior with the implementation of Texas Senate Bill 17, which banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices and trainings in public universities, and went into effect in January 2024. Monarch, a program for undocumented and temporary status students, was one of several programs UT terminated in its change to comply with SB 17.
Alison Fernandez, a social work senior, got her green card during her freshman year. She spent her first semester at UT as an undocumented student. Fernandez said she used Monarch services during that semester and was able to find community with students who had similar experiences. After Trump took office again this year, though, she said she felt isolated.
Approximately 57,000 undocumented students are enrolled in Texas higher education institutions, making it the state with the second-largest undocumented student population in the country, according to a 2024 report from the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.
The Trump administration has revoked the visas of at least 252 international students and one professor in Texas, according to the Texas Tribune. In March, the Trump administration revoked the green card of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestine activist at Columbia University, according to the Associated Press.
Fernandez said she carries her green card with her at all times and takes additional steps to protect her safety.
“I don’t go to protests anymore,” Fernandez said. “I don’t engage in any conversations online or discourse that might be seen under this administration as terrorism instead of free speech, which kind of sucks, because that’s like, who I am in my own values as a person, but I think I have to unfortunately, pick my battles.”
Texas House Bill 160, which is awaiting public hearing, aims to end undocumented students’ eligibility for in-state tuition rates. This legislative session alone, legislators filed four other bills — House Bill 232, House Bill 424, House Bill 979 and House Bill 1324 — that would require undocumented students to pay nonresident tuition rates at public universities.
In 2001, Texas became the first state to grant undocumented students who meet certain high school graduation and residency requirements access to in-state tuition rates at public universities through the Texas Dream Act, or House Bill 1403. The policy was successful in increasing college enrollment rates of undocumented students, said Stella Flores, a professor of higher education and public policy whose research focuses on the effect of state and federal policies on underserved students.
“Texas is actually going to be very penalized by under-educating these students, which will have effects on their families, who are likely to be U.S. citizens,” Flores said. “I don’t think we’re going to see any benefits from retracting this one simple policy that allows highly qualified, academically rigorous students to go to college.
Jane said this lack of access goes beyond financial aid for school. She can’t get a job. She can’t study abroad or pursue high-profile internships even though she is qualified for them. Things that seem ordinary for her peers, like getting a driver’s license, are not possible for her.
“The U.S. is so fast-paced and everything is 30 minutes away,” Jane said. “I just want to be able to drive without having the fear that I’m going to be detained.”
With ambitions of becoming an immigration lawyer, Jane focuses on what she can control. She works diligently to obtain her degree, keeps up with the news — even when it can be hard to stomach — and takes leadership positions in student organizations.
“I want to make change, eventually go to law school (and) specialize in immigration, because I know what other people may feel because I am in the same situation,” Jane said.
Jane remembers shaking after hearing rumors of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on campus. At that moment, she felt paralyzed, she said.
The University confirmed no ICE presence on campus. However, as universities are no longer protected areas from immigration enforcement, Jane’s fear is still very real. Jane said she also used to be open about her undocumented status. Now, she said she doesn’t know who to trust, and is worried someone will report her to the authorities.
UT Rooted, a student initiative that advocates for the undocumented student community, aims to help students like Jane feel less alone. Rooted recently launched the UndocuJoy campaign, providing a space for undocumented students to share their perspective and build collective resilience.
“We just wanted to highlight and also combat the narrative that we’re always in the struggle and always oppressed,” said Victoria, a Rooted co-lead. “It’s true, but also our journey is too, and our families, our friendships, our community, there’s so much more than just this narrative of ‘You’re constantly under attack.’”
Genesis Britz, a citizen herself, was born and raised in a border town with a predominantly Hispanic, Spanish-speaking population where many households were of mixed status. Britz, a government and philosophy sophomore, is chair of the University Democrats Hispanic Caucus and is involved with various advocacy efforts through Students for a Democratic Society and Texas Juntos.
When Britz came to UT, she said she increasingly engaged with groups who were not directly impacted by immigration enforcement policies, spreading awareness while continuing to advocate for family members and those in her community with mixed-status households.
Jane said she’s found support in organizations traditionally outside of the advocacy space. Her sorority has given her a support system away from her family — one that she said has been integral to her mental and emotional wellbeing.
“I’m very motivated by my family,” Jane said. “There’s this thing in Spanish that they say and it’s ‘Échale ganas’ (which means) ‘You’re working so hard and it will pay off eventually.’”
Currently, Rooted only serves a small portion of the undocumented student population at UT, Victoria said. She said Rooted is in the process of becoming a registered student organization in an effort to expand its outreach and impact.
In collaboration with Texas Students for DEI, Victoria has filed three bills, which were referred to committee in early April. They aim to protect sensitive areas outlined in the 2023 Texas Senate Bill 4, such as schools, churches and hospitals, from immigration enforcement. Texas SB 4 is being challenged in court and faces a trial in July.
“With SB 17 last session, we were trying to prevent it from passing,” Victoria said. “Now we’re more on the offensive, trying to pass our own bills.”
Autumn Lauener, an organizer with Texas Students for DEI, said they recognize there is a slim chance these bills will pass, considering the Texas Legislature’s conservative majority. However, Lauener said it’s still important to file the bills to raise awareness.
In the wake of losing institutional protections, Britz said it’s all the more important to highlight undocumented students’ perspectives and provide community-oriented support.
“Existence is resistance,” Britz said. “If we’re able to apply ourselves in those fields, regardless of what the current administrations are doing, keeping our eye on the prize and focusing on resisting and doing well in our academic and professional lives, we can go and be the world changers.”
