In my research, I have become increasingly interested in institutional ambivalence surrounding undocumented students.

In my conversations with higher education professionals, i learned that many universities care deeply about students. But they also fear political scrutiny, legal uncertainty, or public attention.

The result is often institutional silence which looks like unclear guidance. When there is unclear guidance, inconsistent practices and fragmented support systems fill a campus vacuum, labor that is then transferred onto individual professionals. Silence may feel organizationally safer in the short term, but it often creates instability for students and staff over time.

Higher education leaders must understand that undocumented students and the professionals who serve them often absorb significant emotional, educational, and compliance-related burdens created by institutional ambiguity and silence.