New US tool on employment-based immigration pathways for students launched

The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, which represents more than 580 colleges and university leaders in the USA, and Innovation Law Lab, an organization that harnesses law, technology and activism, have partnered on the project.

The Legal Pathways Learning Tool, which is part of the Presidents’ Alliance’s Legal Pathways that Work (LPTW) initiative, can be used by non-citizen students and graduates in “temporary or precarious immigration statuses”, the organizations said.

“The learning tool addresses a critical need for students and campuses. In educating and training students from around the country and the world, American colleges and universities are building the domestic and global talent pipelines essential for industry, research, business, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” said Anita Gupta, Managing Attorney of Legal Programs and Initiatives at the Presidents’ Alliance.

“Each year, thousands of non-citizen graduates from U.S. institutions seek careers in high-need sectors like education, healthcare, and STEM – but many campuses lack the capacity to guide them through complex immigration processes.

“The Legal Pathways that Work initiative helps close this gap by supporting students, institutions, and employers through targeted tools and outreach. By equipping non-citizen students with actionable information and access to legal support, the Legal Pathways Learning Tool empowers a generation of aspiring professionals to make informed decisions about their futures.”

Certain users, including Dreamers with and without DACA (deferred action for childhood arrivals) who hold at least a bachelor’s degree, can also request free legal consultations to assess options.