UF law student to serve as specialist for undocumented students

When Marisol Silva was 14, she helped her mother, who emigrated from Peru, study for the U.S. citizenship test.

Now, the third-year UF law student will help UF implement a training program to help undocumented students.

“This is honestly a dream come true,” the 23-year-old said.

On Wednesday, UF Hispanic-Latino Affairs appointed Silva to serve as the undocumented student support specialist. Silva will work with student organization Chispas UF to help create and implement UndocuAlly, a training program for UF faculty and staff to help undocumented students with applications.

The training will clear up myths about undocumented students and the struggles they face, as well as foster a welcoming environment, Silva said.

Diana Moreno, the program coordinator for UF Hispanic-Latino Affairs, said Silva will also work to identify and close the gaps in the services that UF provides to undocumented students.

“Undocumented students are everywhere, and a lot of them struggle an impressive amount to be able to be here,” Moreno said. “We saw a passion in Marisol for advancing the rights of others.”

She said Silva will be paid through funding from the Florida Immigrant Coalition, a coalition of different organizations that works toward the rights of immigrants. With Silva’s experience with immigration and law, undocumented students can go to her for help.

“We want to work together and help the university improve,” Moreno said.

Silva remembers being happy after her mother became a citizen, because she understood the struggles undocumented immigrants face.

“Being an undocumented student comes with unique challenges, so finding that support network is crucial,” Silva said.

Silva’s office hours, which began this week, are from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays at the Hispanic-Latino Engagement Center, also known as La Salita, in the Reitz Union. On Wednesday’s, Silva has office hours at La Casita, located at 1504 W. University Ave., from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“I have always wanted to work with the undocumented community,” Silva said. “It is something that is really close to my heart, and I want to spend the rest of my life working with undocumented people.”

Marisol Silva