Transcript FUTUROS EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

Undocumented Students:
An Overview of Policies, Myths & Best Practices
Paz Maya Olivérez, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Futuros Educational Services
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Presenter Background
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Dissertation research took place during the 2004-2005 school
year
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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.
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Futuros Educational Services
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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.
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Your Questions….
What questions do you have coming into
the workshop?
 What information do you hope to walk
away with from the workshop?
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Undocumented Students:
Who are they?
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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
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Undocumented Students:
Who are they?
Similar to peers:
 Low-income
 Poor academic preparation
 First-generation collegegoers
 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
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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
State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrant Students.”
In-
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BREAK
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. Doe
U.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.
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Undocumented Students:
DREAM Act
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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.
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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.”
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Financial Aid for Immigrant Students
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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
BREAK
College Access Challenge #1
Students are uninformed &
misinformed
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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
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College Access Challenge #2
Students lack mentors &
encouragement
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Student support groups
 High school clubs (i.e., develop & advise)
 Undocumented student alumni
 Undocumented college student groups
Individualized counseling and guidance
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College Access Challenge #3
Parents lack of college
knowledge
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Involve parents in college preparation process
Develop parent support groups
Provide information in parents’ native language
Connect parents to community resources
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College Access Challenge #4
Students’ college choices are largely
influenced by finances
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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.
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College Access Challenge #5
Students need assistance when
completing college admissions
applications
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Help students complete residency questions (develop
relationships with college admission representatives)
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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)
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College Access Challenge #6
Students need assistance with
fundraising for college
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SCHOLARSHIPS
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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
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Additional Fundraising Ideas
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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
 Look
parties, raffles, candy sales, etc.
to undocumented College Student Groups:
 Scholarship
opportunities
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Post-graduate Options
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Job opportunities
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Graduate school
More steps you can take to help…
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GET CONNECTED
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Partner with feeder high school and college-based
counselors/advisers
Partner with local organizations/ agencies in your community
(including immigration attorneys)
STAY ACTIVE & INFORMED
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Advocate for your students (i.e., scholarship providers,
policymakers)
Stay informed about policies that impact undocumented students
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Information Resources
For up-to-date information on state/federal legislation:
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National Immigration Law Center
www.nilc.org
For research and statistics on undocumented immigrants:
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Pew Hispanic Center
www.pewhispanic.org
For immigration information and legal advice for immigrant youth:
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Public Counsel
www.publiccounsel.org
Remaining Questions
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Please feel free to contact us:
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Paz Maya Olivérez, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Futuros Educational Services
[email protected]
For more information:
www.futuros-california.org
We can also be found on Facebook.
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