Teaching Noncitizen Students in 2026
My non-immigration teaching focuses on Civil Procedure. For years, I've been tasking Spring 1Ls to complete a courtroom observation: I ask them to find a civil proceeding to observe, in any court, and to write a short reflection on it. My goal is for them to see a courtroom before they graduate and to see what we've learned in the classroom put into practice.
On Thursday, I was approached by noncitizen students who expressed their discomfort with the assignment. They did not want to go to any court because they feared being taken into custody by ICE.
It's embarrassing to report that I, an immigration professor, hadn't even thought about that concern. Of course, I okay'd an alternative observation exercise. But that isn't the point of this post: I'm hoping to help anyone else avoid my lack of foresight.
Right now, noncitizen law students– legally present and otherwise – are struggling with perfectly valid fears about the current immigration enforcement environment. As are those students who are terrified about the threats facing noncitizen friends and family.
I'm debating about how to best support these students – maybe just a peer support group. If you have other ideas, please reach out!
