Resources for Undocumented, International and Immigrant Students and Employees

This page provides essential resources and support for students and employees who are undocumented, immigrant, or international. Here, you’ll find information on rights and protections, legal assistance, and campus services to help support your academic and professional journey.

Protections for Immigrants in California

Local and state law enforcement are prohibited from using their resources for federal immigrant enforcement (CA- Senate Bill 54, passed in 2017)

• The policy makes an exception for violent offenders, but beyond that, any law enforcement agencies that assist ICE with deportations would be breaking state law.
• CA Attorney General Rob Bonta noted that California’s law has already been upheld in federal court, in 2018, when a previous administration tried to halt it. 

California State University employees may NOT share any information to third parties, including DACA status, AB540 status, and enrollment status. ALL INQUIRIES should be referred to UPD who will check for a warrant on a violent crime.

International Support and Resources

Should you find yourself in need of legal support, the CSU provides pro bono (free of charge) legal immigration services through a contract with Immigrant Legal Defense or ILD. You can book an appointment online and it is available to all CSU employees, students, and their families. 

Student Resources

We also have staff at the Center for International Education, who can answer questions for international students. 

Employee Resources

• Faculty and staff in Academic Affairs can contact Karen.Ling@csueastbay.edu for questions on immigration.
• Other employees can contact Victoria.Morris@csueastbay.edu in Human Resources for questions on immigration.

Immigration Status and Mental Health

Stressors for individuals who are undocumented, temporary status, or in mixed status families:

• Chronic stress from “living in the shadows” and ongoing uncertainty of political changes
• Acute stress from anti-immigrant rhetoric and threats of mass deportation
• Restricted job opportunities, ongoing economic stress
• Uncertainty about career opportunities post-graduation
• Hesitation to engage supportive services
• Lack of expertise from some University staff

Mental Health Resources

• Counseling Services records have a high level of legal protection. In addition to this, we never document client immigration status.
• Two counselors (Rosa and Kathryn) are designated liaisons to undocumented community, both bilingual in Spanish and English.
• Confidential Campus Advocate (Michelle) and Case Manager (Lizeth) are both also bilingual in Spanish and English.

Rosa Mora
Licensed Counselor

Kathryn Kirkpatrick
Licensed Counselor

Lizeth Cortez
Case Manager

Michelle Luqueno-Diaz
Confidential Advocate

Students can schedule an appointment at https://health.csueastbay.edu, call (510) 885-3735, or email shcscounseling@csueastbay.edu.
Additional resources for undocumented mental health are available on our Online Wellness Resources by Community webpage.

International Travel for CSUEB Students and Employees

• Cal State East Bay Center for International Education Travel Outside of US for International Students
• Cal State East Bay Foreign Travel Insurance Program
• Chancellor’s Office CSU System International Travel Considerations

Register If Your International Travel is for University-Related Purposes

University faculty, staff, and students traveling for university-related purposes are required to register with CSUEB Foreign Travel Insurance Program

For ALL TRAVELERS

Be Prepared for Border Security in Other Countries AND When Re-Entering the United States

When Entering and Traveling in Other Countries

• Your devices may be searched or seized when you enter or travel in other countries. Many nations have laws that give border agents the authority to search or seize your devices.
• In addition, police and other authorities in some countries may have legal authority to search or seize your devices while you are in the country. Local laws may or may not provide privacy protections for your electronic devices and data.
• If your Cal State East Bay device such as a laptop is searched or seized when entering and traveling across national borders, report the incident as soon as possible to the University by calling CSUEB Risk Management in the U.S. at 510-885-2250 or by emailing riskmanagement@csueastbay.edu.

When Entering or Reentering the U.S.

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have the authority to search or seize the devices of U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries entering the U.S. When you re-enter the country after a trip abroad, you may be asked to provide access to your electronic devices.
• CBP search includes an examination only of information that is resident upon the device at the time it is presented for inspection. Border agents must disconnect devices from the internet before searching.
• CSUEB devices—do not consent to the search and do not unlock the device. If the device is seized by a CBP officer, report the incident as soon as possible by calling CSUEB Risk Management in the U.S. at 510-885-2250 or by emailing riskmanagement@csueastbay.edu.
• Note that non-U.S. citizens may be denied entry to the U.S. if they refuse to provide access to their devices, so they are strongly advised against traveling internationally with a Cal State East Bay device.
• See more information from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) on Border Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry.

Protect Yourself and CSUEB When Traveling Abroad

In addition to the general guidance on making sure your devices are not stolen or left unattended, consider taking these measures for protecting your devices and data when traveling abroad:

Before You Leave

Take Only What You Need

• Don't take personal or CSUEB data or devices you won't need while traveling.
• Consider getting a mobile phone for temporary use on your trip. These are known as pre-paid phones or burner phones. They are inexpensive smartphones for which you would purchase a pre-paid month by month plan for service. This phone would not have your social media accounts or other messaging history on it. You may want to do this if you are:
  • traveling to a high-risk location
  • concerned about your own visa status risk in re-entering the United States
  • concerned about the amount of data and entries you have on social media, messaging apps, and other information linked to your personal cell phone or smart pad device and do not want to remove and delete a high volume of apps and files.
• Arrange for alternative DUO authentication if your authentication device for push notifications is your personal cellular phone via SMS text or DUO app. You can link your DUO authentication push notices to your new pre-paid phone by calling the IT Help Desk at CSUEB at: 510-885-4357 (885-HELP). 

If you must take your personal regular phone or a CSUEB device, remove sensitive personal information and CSUEB institutional and research data from your devices: 

• Disable lock-screen notifications and widgets that may reveal sensitive information.
• Disable biometric locks and use a passcode instead to ensure the device cannot be accessed against your will.
• Log out of personal and CSUEB cloud services such as Google, Slack, etc.
• Clear your web browsing history, cached images and files, and similar information stored on your devices.

While Abroad

• Power off your devices before arriving at border security and when they are not in use. This triggers elevated security settings on most devices.
• Do not leave devices unattended such as in a hotel room or safe where they can be accessed by hotel staff.
• Avoid public WiFi and plan for a more secure connection. Cellular networks are more secure than public WiFi, and can be used instead of less secure WiFi. Check with your phone carrier about international roaming and data plans. 
• Be discreet. For example, if possible, do not use an obvious laptop storage bag, as these may make you a more conspicuous target.

For ALL TRAVELERS, if you are detained by US Customs and Border Patrol while leaving or re-entering the United States, you may contact the Office of the President at Cal State East Bay at 510-885-3877 (during business hours 9am to 5pm M-F) or Risk Management at 510-885-2250 (during business hours 9am to 5pm) or by emailing riskmanagement@csueastbay.edu.

You may want to contact your own legal attorney or emergency contact person. 

For international students you may contact the Center for International Education at balvinder.kumar@csueastbay.edu at number 510-885-4920. 

We can help you contact your US Congressional representative for assistance. We can also assist you in contacting Immigration Legal Defense which serves the CSU and CSUEB.