Take responsibility for your own education on issues related to the undocumented. Take the initiative to become as knowledgeable as you can on issues of concern to students who are immigrants and who may be undocumented, children of undocumented, or US born siblings of undocumented
Assume that the issues of prejudice and discrimination of immigrants and others are everyone’s concern, not just the concern of those who are targets of prejudice and discrimination
Assume that young people have a right to education and they have done nothing wrong to become undocumented
Assume that immigration policy changes and it is just a matter of time before there is comprehensive immigration reform that gives law abiding, educated young people a pathway to legal residency and naturalization
Assume that US raised undocumented immigrant youth want to stay in the US and realize the “American Dream” as much as any other US born and raised youth
Avoid engaging in giving advice or assistance that would compromise their future pathway to citizenship
Create opportunities for allies to reduce xenophobia and create a welcoming campus climate
Get to know specific students so that you can honestly write them highly effective letters of recommendation that will help them apply for scholarships to finance their education
Within the spirit of academic standards and legal requirements, become flexible about course and program requirements so that they do not cause barriers for undocumented students’ academic success
Graciously accept any gratitude you may receive, but do not expect gratitude.
Adapted from Shervor-Marcuse, R (1990) Working assumptions and guidelines for alliance building. Presented as part of an Ally Program at the annual ACPA Conference, Atlanta, GA. and CSULB Safe Zone Becoming an Ally
