undocumented students: an overview of policies, myths & best practices paz maya olivérez, ph.d....
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Undocumented Students:An Overview of Policies, Myths & Best Practices
Paz Maya Olivérez, Ph.D.Executive DirectorFuturos Educational Services
Innovative Educators Webinar
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
Presenter Background
Dissertation research took place during the 2004-2005 school year Bi-weekly interviews for 12 months 10 undocumented high school seniors Latino – Mexican, Guatemalan, Salvadoran, Peruvian,
Colombian College aspirations/ Enrolled in honors/A.P. courses/ Meet
eligibility requirements for CA’s 4-year public universities Later helped to develop resource guide for CA
undocumented students Continued to deliver workshops for various
audiences throughout Los Angeles, California, and the U.S.
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
Futuros Educational Services Futuros was started in 2008 to:
Provide one-on-one college advising, college and scholarship application assistance, fundraising support, and informational workshops for students and parents.
Provide professional development workshops for school-, college-, and community-based practitioners to offer up-to-date information and best practices for addressing the needs of undocumented students.
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
Your Questions….
What questions do you have coming into the workshop?
What information do you hope to walk away with from the workshop?
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
Undocumented Students:Who are they? The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that in the year
2000, approximately 2.5 million undocumented youth under age 18 were living in the U.S.
Each year, an estimated 65,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools
25% of all undocumented immigrants live in California An estimated 22,000 graduate from high school
each year
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Pew Hispanic Center, National Immigration Law Center
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
Undocumented Students:Who are they?
Similar to peers: Low-income Poor academic
preparation First-generation
college-goers Limited access to
college information & support
Different from peers: Not eligible for
government-sponsored financial aid
Cannot gain legal employment
Cannot acquire a driver’s license
Live in fear of discovery/deportation
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
Undocumented Students:Challenges to Legalization
People often ask why undocumented students do not apply for a “green card” to legalize their status. The answer is that most of them would love to apply but that in the overwhelming majority of cases they cannot. The legal grounds for such petitions have narrowed to the point where it is almost impossible. The most likely outcome for a student who tries to apply is deportation of his entire family — sometimes to a “home” nation the student cannot remember.
Source: National Immigration Law Center. (2009). “Basic Facts about In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrant Students.”
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
Undocumented Students:In-State Tuition
Currently, there are 10 states in the U.S. with policies that allow eligible undocumented students to pay in-state tuition. Texas, California, Utah, Illinois,
Washington, New York, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Oklahoma
Source: National Immigration Law Center. (2009). “Basic Facts about In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrant Students.”
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
Undocumented Students:Federal Policy
1982: Plyler vs. DoeU.S. Supreme Court decision that granted undocumented students the right to a public school education from K-12 grade in the U.S.
1996: “Illegal” Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA),Section 505: Law limiting eligibility for preferential treatment of undocumented immigrants on basis of residence for higher education benefits.
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
Undocumented Students:DREAM Act Broadly supported legislation known as the DREAM Act (S.
2075, H.R. 5131) was introduced in March 2009 is currently pending in the U.S. Congress.
Proponents hope that it will be included in Obama’s Immigration Reform bill. The DREAM Act would provide a path to legal status for
individuals who are undocumented, even though they were brought to the U.S. years ago as children and have lived most of their lives here. It would also repeal the provision of law that penalizes states that provide in-state tuition to undocumented immigrant residents by requiring them to provide the same benefits to students who do not reside in the state.
Source: National Immigration Law Center. (2009). “Basic Facts about In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrant Students.”
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
Financial Aid for Immigrant Students
If a student filed an application with USCIS, the student may already be eligible for resident fee status and also to receive state financial aid. Have them speak to their attorney. If the student has a “green card” or social security
number, they are eligible to complete the FAFSA.
Undocumented students should not complete the online FAFSA application. Undocumented students should contact someone at
the college they plan to attend to ask about completing a paper FAFSA for institutional aid.
Some students/families may be eligible for loans from some banks/loan agencies/private lenders if they have a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
College Access Challenge #1
Students are uninformed & misinformed
Include undocumented student information in all college/financial aid materials
Have a 1-page fact sheet for undocumented students/parents
Incorporate as part of individualized advising Include expert presenters in all college-related
events Professional development for college access
professionals
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
College Access Challenge #2
Students lack mentors & encouragement
Student support groups High school clubs (i.e., develop & advise) Undocumented student alumni Undocumented college student groups
Individualized counseling and guidance
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
College Access Challenge #3
Parents lack of college knowledge
Involve parents in college preparation process Develop parent support groups Provide information in parents’ native language Connect parents to community resources
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
College Access Challenge #4
Students’ college choices are largely
influenced by finances Provide information about college costs for
all systems of higher education. Bring in current undocumented college
students to share their stories. Be realistic. Provide information &
motivation but be realistic about the challenges.
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
College Access Challenge #5
Students need assistance when completing college admissions
applications Help students complete residency questions
(develop relationships with college admission representatives)
Attend college/university application workshops annually to stay informed of policy changes
General support for completing applications (if you don’t know the answer, find someone who does)
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
College Access Challenge #6
Students need assistance with fundraising for college
SCHOLARSHIPS Research scholarships without residency requirements
Develop a space for this information in your office Update scholarship lists regularly Provide scholarship application assistance
Proofread essays, write letters of recommendation, offer scholarship application workshops
FUNDRAISING PORTFOLIO
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
Additional Fundraising Ideas
BE CREATIVE! Look to your organization/institution:
Develop an undocumented student scholarship fund
Inquire about the availability of discretionary funds
Look to student/family/community: House parties, raffles, candy sales, etc.
Look to undocumented College Student Groups: Scholarship opportunities
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
More steps you can take to help…
GET CONNECTED Partner with feeder high school and college-based
counselors/advisers Partner with local organizations/ agencies in your
community (including immigration attorneys) STAY ACTIVE & INFORMED
Advocate for your students (i.e., scholarship providers, policymakers)
Stay informed about policies that impact undocumented students
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities
Information Resources
For up-to-date information on state/federal legislation: National Immigration Law Center
www.nilc.org
For research and statistics on undocumented immigrants: Pew Hispanic Center
www.pewhispanic.org
For immigration information and legal advice for immigrant youth: Public Counsel
www.publiccounsel.org
Please feel free to contact us: Paz Maya Olivérez, Ph.D.
Executive DirectorFuturos Educational [email protected]
For more information: www.futuros-california.orgWe can also be found on Facebook.
Promoting College Access for Low Income and Immigrant Communities