Supporting Undocumented Students at Berkeley

Undocumented Student Program (USP)

UC Berkeley’s Undocumented Student Program (USP) — a component of the Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence — provides guidance and holistic support to undocumented students at Berkeley. USP also works closely with the Office for Graduate Diversity to support our undocumented graduate students.

USP would like to personally invite you to join us in supporting our estimated 550 undocumented students at Berkeley!

Berkeley's Undocumented Student Program provides comprehensive support and services to undocumented students to help them succeed in their educational aspirations. These include:

- Mental Health & Wellness Support: Undocumented students have access to licensed, culturally competent psychologists who provide undocumented students a confidential space and who will collaborate with them on an individual wellness plan as well as provide psycho-educational workshops and tools.

- Academic Counseling: Our academic counselors deliver holistic, culturally appropriate, individualized services for each student to help them balance their personal challenges with the educational demands of university life. Students receive support transitioning to the university, selecting courses, choosing major, understanding requirements, exploring career options, and preparing for life after UC Berkeley.

- Immigration Legal Support: Through our partnership with the East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC), USP provides undocumented students with general consultations, full legal representation on a wide range of immigration, matters, and other free legal support, including application fee support, immigration law resources, and a comprehensive referral network for other legal needs.

- Emergency Grants: USP provides two different types of emergency grants to students every academic year. The housing emergency grant is intended for extenuating housing-related costs, whereas the emergency grant is intended for extenuating food security, medical, dental, computer, and other unforeseen emergencies. Each grant can be up to $800.

- Transcending Beyond Berkeley Fellowship: Access to professional development and research opportunities within higher education is very important whether going into the world of work or continuing on in academia. The Transcending Beyond Berkeley (TBB) Fellowship program provides students with tools to present their education, experience, and skills effectively in a professional environment and to thrive, regardless of immigration status.

- Community Events: USP works with RISE, the undocumented student and ally organization on campus, to provide special community events and programming that give students a sense of belonging and serve as a medium to connect with one another. One of the biggest events of the year is the UndocuGrad Celebration where we celebrate our graduating students.

We invite you to join us in ensuring that all Berkeley students — regardless of financial means or documentation status — get the support they need to succeed through and beyond Berkeley.

To learn more about the Undocumented Student Program visit our website (undocu.berkeley.edu) or contact USP Program Director, Liliana Iglesias at liglesias@berkeley.edu.