Freedom University Institute for Community Engagement
Expanded Support for Undocumented Students in Atlanta
As universities continue to defund and dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, and administrators continue to engage in anticipatory obedience to federal threats, undocumented students are increasingly left to fend for themselves and navigate complex university bureaucracies to receive the support they need.
As the only school in the world that exclusively serves undocumented students, Freedom University provides our students with comprehensive mental health workshops, legal support, Know Your Rights and Digital Security Trainings, and entrepreneurship and post-graduation seminars. However, in listening to our alumni over the past year, the Freedom University community has decided to lead with courage, and expand our programs to serve undocumented students at three college in Atlanta.
We believe that by building these four support programs in a secure and accessible way, students will take advantage of these programs, funding will follow, and universities will adapt our model to build infrastructure on their own campuses to welcome, support, and protect their undocumented students.
1) Mental Health Workshops
Freedom University provides in-person and online mental health workshops tailored for the unique needs of undocumented students.
Taught by Freedom University’s own Mental Health professors, who are first generation immigrants who hold doctorates in the field of counseling psychology, these 90-minute workshops provide culturally competent care on topics such as sustaining joy, healing from trauma, self-care and community care, navigating uncertain futures, healthy boundary setting and coping skills, mindfulness practices, and improving interpersonal communication to sustain healthy relationships.
Contact us for a free consultation to discuss collaborative planning, customized workshop sessions, post-project support, and sliding scale rates.
2) Emergency Legal Support
In the absence of emergency and comprehensive legal support structures for many undocumented students at Atlanta’s private universities, Freedom University has expanded its successful Legal Support Program to include undocumented students at Oglethorpe University, Emory University, and Agnes Scott College.
Undocumented students in need of emergency legal support, including immediate consultations with reputable immigration attorneys, should contact their university’s student-led immigrant rights organization for Freedom University’s hotline and secure proton email address to submit the required legal intake forms.
Freedom University will cover the cost of initial consultations and work with each university to secure any further funds to support their undocumented students’ legal needs.
3) Know Your Rights and Digital Security Trainings
Since 2014, Freedom University has developed and improved its own Know Your Rights Training program to educate and empower its students in interactions with police or ICE. Beginning in 2024, following the November election, Freedom University adapted its internal training program for undocumented students and allies in the broader community. This included translating its Know Your Rights method into materials available in 15 languages, and adapting the training on a weekly basis to reflect federal and state policy changes.
Following trainings with on-the-ground organizers in Minnesota in February 2026, and in response to rapidly changing ICE tactics and surveillance technology, Freedom University has expanded its Know Your Rights Training to also include critical Digital Security recommendations.
These trainings are developed and delivered by our Executive Director, Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis, who has 24 years of human rights advocacy experience in the U.S. and Global South, and who has delivered more than 150 Know Your Rights presentations to undocumented students and allies over the past decade.
Contact us for a no-cost consultation on the specific needs and challenges your school or university has in preparing for interactions with ICE, and how our Know Your Rights and Digital Security Training can help protect your community.
4) Entrepreneurship Seminars
Freedom University has provided tailored presentations and classes to our students to not only help them prepare for college, but to also build meaningful futures after college. These presentations feature undocumented experts who help students navigate options for graduate school, state-specific licensure requirements, and opportunities for starting their own businesses. Freedom University staff also lead culturally sensitive dialogues on international opportunities beyond the United States, where undocumented students have options to apply their language skills, college education, and multicultural intelligence in more welcoming environments.Contact us if you would like to learn more about hosting Freedom University’s expert seminars on entrepreneurship and post-graduation options for undocumented students.
Get In Touch
If you are a university partner interested in working with us, complete the form with a few details about your project. We'll review your message and get back to you within 3-5 business days.
If you are an undocumented student at Oglethorpe, Emory, or Agnes Scott College, please reach out to the undocumented student organization on your campus for details on how to send us a secure message regarding our emergency legal support program. These organizations are led by trusted Freedom University alumni.