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Undocumented Students

Undocumented students are encouraged to consider study away, and the Center for Study Away (CSA) is committed to supporting you throughout the process. At the same time, studying away can involve additional logistical, financial, and legal considerations for undocumented students. Your circumstances may also shape how you experience your host community and navigate travel.

As you explore study away options, prepare for your program, and consider your return to Macalester, we encourage you to review the information and questions on this page. Reflecting on how your experience may be similar to or different from that of other students can help you make informed decisions about whether, where, and how to study away. CSA advisors are available to discuss these considerations with you as part of the advising process.

Travel outside the United States may involve particular legal and immigration considerations. Currently advance parole technically is available for DACA recipients who have a reason to travel for humanitarian, employment, or educational reasons. However, advance parole does not guarantee re-entry into the United States, and you may face additional scrutiny. Moreover, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has increased its presence and enforcement activities within 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders. Because immigration policies and enforcement practices can change, we encourage you to seek current, individualized legal guidance when considering international travel.

You are not expected to navigate these decisions alone. We encourage you to connect with a CSA advisor early in your planning process so we can help you consider your options and identify an approach that works for you.

  • Questions to Ask

      • As an undocumented student, what are your academic and personal goals for study away, and how can those be fulfilled on a domestic program?

      • Do you have the necessary government-issued identification to travel by airplane within the U.S.? If not, can you get to your study away location by ground transportation?

      • Is there an immigrant rights advocacy agency near your study away location that could provide support if needed?

      • What is your host institution or program’s policy for undocumented students?

      • Does the host institution have an advisor or student support services for undocumented students?

      • Have you consulted with an immigration attorney regarding your plans to study away? If you don’t have one, Macalester is committed to providing access to pro bono attorneys for undocumented students. Please contact Hana Dinku ([email protected]) or Sedric McClure ([email protected]) for more information.

      • Are you eligible to renew your DACA benefits in the near future?

      • Based on your intersecting identity factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and citizenship status, how will you be perceived in your host community? What stereotypes or assumptions might you encounter? Is it likely you will experience discrimination?

      • How might you react if you find something to be offensive or if you are the target of curiosity, prejudice, discrimination, or racism?

      • Are there additional study away funding sources you can look into?

Domestic Study Away Programs

You do not have to study internationally to have a meaningful study away experience. If international travel does not feel appropriate for your circumstances, CSA advisors can work with you to identify domestic opportunities that align with your academic and personal learning goals. While Macalester currently has a limited number of domestic programs on its approved list, CSA can also help you explore additional domestic options that may not currently be on the list.

Explore Programs

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We recognize that you came to this website looking for information and resources. If there is something specific you were looking for but didn’t find, please let us know using the feedback form link below. We will do our best to help you find resources that meet your needs and add them here as well. We also welcome suggestions for including resources that you have found on your own that we have missed.

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