Mental Health and Undocumented Students

  • by Aditya Gupta, Lydia Lei, Oralee Tran, Teo Richard, Aya Clear, and UC Davis Undocumented Student Resource Center

Introduction 

For most students, the stress of college is fairly predictable. Deadlines, exams, and figuring out what comes next. For undocumented students, that list looks different. On top of everything else, there is the ongoing weight of uncertainty about status, about family, about what the next policy shift might mean for their day-to-day lives. That kind of stress doesn't pause between classes.

The mental health consequences of living undocumented in the United States are well-documented. Chronic anxiety, depression, PTSD, and social isolation show up consistently in the research, and they don't exist separately from what's happening politically. Enforcement actions, deportation fears, and anti-immigrant rhetoric all have real, measurable effects on the people living inside them. This blog examines what that actually means for undocumented students and community members at UC Davis, and what support is available for those who need it.

The Weight of Uncertainty

We now know that undocumented immigrants make up a significant portion of the United States, with millions of them being young children. However, instead of focusing on going to school, playing with their friends, or going to work, our neighbors, friends, and community members are more worried about whether they will see another day with their families. These individuals live in constant fear and are under extreme stress due to socioeconomic disadvantage, demanding work schedules, stigma, harsh living conditions, and much more. Under the current administration, the mass deportations have led to an increase in stigma that portrays undocumented immigrants as a risk to the US in multiple ways, and as a way to resolve that, the administration decides to remove individuals from their friends, family, and community. 

Many undocumented immigrants share that they live under extreme stress. They are constantly being racially profiled, receiving microaggressions and discrimination, and live in constant fear of deportation. Many of these individuals who have been exposed to this violence by the system are at higher risk for depressive disorders, PTSD, substance use disorders, and many other mental health problems. These disorders are tied to problems such as employment and access to health care, two very vital factors in life that undocumented immigrants simply don’t have access to. The increased surveillance, restriction, separation, and isolation can also increase the risk of suicidal ideation. 

These mass deportations have long-term consequences such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation. In an article by CalMatters that focuses on the Oxnard School District, they wrote about how many young children in that district struggle to sleep at night because their minds are too focused on wondering whether their parents will come home. Additionally, these students would make comments such as “Can I just be a kid?” If these children were older and had younger siblings, they would have no choice but to take on the parent role and look after their younger siblings despite being children themselves. This forces children to “grow up too quickly.” This goes to show how the actions by the current administration not only impact adult individuals, but by targeting these adults, they are also hurting a whole community of individuals, including young children. 

Undocumented Immigrants and Mental Health: A Study by Garcini et al. 

Undocumented immigrants in the U.S. face an increasing threat from government policies. A political climate that is increasingly hostile to immigrants is creating an atmosphere of fear, discrimination, and uncertainty, affecting immigrants’ daily lives. This long-term stress can negatively impact their mental health. Undocumented immigrants can face a long list of mental health challenges, including anxiety, chronic stress, depression, PTSD, trauma-related symptoms, sleep disturbances, emotional separation, isolation, and distrust of institutions. 

In a systematic review of undocumented immigrants and mental health, researchers assessed 44 peer-reviewed studies in the United States. They found that discrimination was linked to depression and psychological distress and that anti-immigrant rhetoric increased fear and anxiety. Additionally, they reported rates of major depressive disorder (14.4%), panic disorder (8.4%), and generalized anxiety disorder (6.6%). Anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies further increase the severity of mental health issues for undocumented immigrants. DACA uncertainty and deportation fears are at the forefront of these issues. Political hostility also creates chronic stress. Cumulative stress over time can deeply burden undocumented immigrants in their everyday lives. Mundane activities can become sources of fear, leading to long-term effects on emotional and physical well-being. These effects impact families and communities, not just individuals. 

Accessible mental health resources are vital for undocumented immigrants. Individuals need culturally informed counseling and safe spaces, as well as community organizations and legal support. Above all, immigrants need advocacy for reduced discrimination. Recognizing undocumented immigrants’ mental health is vital to supporting these individuals’ voices, which often go unheard. We must encourage compassion, awareness, and support. Finally, we must advocate for safer and more supportive communities and policies.  

What We Can Do 

“...empower undocumented students, their families, and members of the community in being informed leaders and active participants in our communities.” This is an excerpt from the UC Davis Undocumented Student Resource Center’s mission statement. From legal advice and scholarships to community events and mental health support, the USRC helps students stay informed and offers a space where students can feel safe and heard. They share the responsibility for caring for one another so that we can all prosper together and protect each other.  

For immigration-specific needs, the UC Immigrant Legal Services Center is a UC-wide program committed to providing “free, high-quality immigration legal representation, outreach, and education.” In addition, UC Davis Global Affairs’ Services for International Students and Scholars assists with legal documents and the immigration process, and provides advice on everything from employment to cultural concerns. 

But institutional resources are only part of the picture. As fellow students, we have a role to play too. By staying informed and spreading awareness of the current climate surrounding immigrants and minorities, we can educate our community about what these undocumented students are going through. Advocacy also plays a huge role. Always thinking about how to increase opportunities for access for undocumented students to be taken care of and have a seamless undergraduate experience by having access to basic needs, mental health, and inclusive fellowship opportunities. Furthermore, simply making time to ask about and listen to the troubles your friends and peers are experiencing regarding the current situation can make a real difference. People with citizenship and the right to vote can make a difference for their peers by advocating for protections, policies, and inclusion at the state legislative level. On our campus, it is not just students who may be facing these challenging circumstances; our professors are also. On our campus, we can all advocate for professors and academic departments to open up funded opportunities for students to receive mentorship and experiential learning. Under the USRC, they are accepting donations to their Aggie Dream Fund to support this organization and our peers. It is up to us to show up for the people who need our help the most. 

Message from Undocumented Resource Center (USRC), UC Davis 

Students’ mental health and wellness can be affected by many different factors, including academic and environmental stressors. We want to remind students that they are not alone. Many resources are available to provide mental health support and promote overall well-being. A major goal is to help our scholars feel seen as more than just their immigration status. We encourage them to invest in themselves, their joy, their rest, and in feeling at home in their bodies so they can carry that sense of safety and belonging wherever they go. We surround them with love, support, and encouragement, and celebrate every step of their journey. We also invite our campus community to join us in fostering this care and support. The following resources are available for students seeking support and additional assistance:  

  • Christian Cazares, MA SHCS Pre-Doctoral Intern https://undocumented.ucdavis.edu/people/christian-cazares
  • Maria Helena Buitrago Cohoon, PsyD, CAN Counselor https://undocumented.ucdavis.edu/people/maria-helena-buitrago-cohoon
  • Counseling Services https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/services/counseling-services
  • USRC attends to students' overall well-being, seeing other campus partners https://undocumented.ucdavis.edu/about/partners

We also have resources that any student can use if they are facing any mental health crisis. If there is any immediate danger, call 911 right away. If you are in crisis, you can call North Hall at 530-752-0871 between 8am and 4:30pm (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) and 9-4:30 (Wednesday) to speak with a counselor. You can call or text 988 anytime to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you want to meet with a counselor in person for a crisis, please walk into “Acute Care” at the Student Health and Wellness Center during normal business hours and request a meeting with the on-call counselor. You can also access crisis services after hours by calling 530-752-0871 and following the prompts to speak to a counselor immediately. At any time, you can use the crisis text line by texting RELATE to 741741 from anywhere in the US to text with a trained paraprofessional crisis counselor. When on the Davis campus, you may contact Health 34 for non-emergency issues, support, and navigation to services 24/7/365 at (530)754-3434. 

Conclusion

No single resource resolves what undocumented students are navigating right now. But knowing where to turn matters, and so does knowing that support exists. The USRC, UC Immigrant Legal Services Center, and SISS are all accessible starting points, and they exist specifically to help students stay informed, feel safe, and find the assistance they need.

The other part of this is simpler. Staying informed, checking in on people around you, and taking the time to actually listen are things anyone in this community can do. For students who are carrying this kind of weight, that kind of peer presence is not a small thing. Know that you are not alone in this matter and that we are here to help you. 

Sources 

  1. Garcini, L. M., Daly, R., Chen, N., Mehl, J., Pham, T., Phan, T., Hansen, B., & Kothare, A. (2021, June 23). Undocumented immigrants and mental health: A systematic review of recent methodology and findings in the United States. Journal of migration and health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8352099/ 
  2. Garcini, Luz M, et al. “Undocumented Immigrants and Mental Health: A Systematic Review of Recent Methodology and Findings in the United States.” Journal of Migration and Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 23 June 2021, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8352099/. 
  3. Ibarra, Ana B. “‘can I Just Be a Kid?’ Students Shaken by Immigration Raids Seek Help from School Counselors.” CalMatters, 3 Oct. 2025, calmatters.org/health/mental-health/2025/10/immigration-raids-kids-mental-health/. 
  4. “Undocumented Immigrants.” Psychiatry.Org - Undocumented Immigrants, www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/diversity/education/stress-and-trauma/undocumented-immigrants. Accessed 26 May 2026.