WHEREAS, Enrollment of undocumented and immigrant students at California Community Colleges has significantly declined due to a lack of support programs, resources, and anti-immigrant sentiments and as of recent years, the number of undocumented students decreased by 4.2% between 2019 and 2021 while the enrollment of DACA-eligible students decreased by 22.5%; furthermore, data collected from the Undocumented Student Affordability report demonstrates an estimated 30% of undocumented college students to have applied to the CADAA (California Dream Act Application) and subsequently enroll in post secondary education[1];
WHEREAS, There are currently 86,805 undocumented students in higher education at California Community Colleges, with only 32,000 of those students being eligible for DACA[3]; undocumented and immigrant students at CCC face significant barriers, including limited financial aid eligibility, few post-graduate employment opportunities, and social stigma and existing resources, such as emergency financial assistance, are insufficient for undocumented students, DACA recipients are considered ineligible for financial student aid, regardless of their status as full-time students[6];
WHEREAS, Immigrant and undocumented community college students face personal and psychological challenges that severely affect their ability to complete certifications, graduate, and pursue post-graduate career pathways and it has been proven that targeted career initiatives such as accelerated career pathways and career navigators have shown improved retention, graduation rates, and employment outcomes for immigrant students by supporting their academic success[7];
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor’s Office to collaborate with non-profit organizations to fund for financial aid support through specialized reserves offering loans, scholarships, and financial aid workshops available to undocumented and immigrant students who don’t qualify for DREAM Act, which also includes advocating for partnerships between academic institutions for internship and research opportunities designed to provide opportunities specifically for undocumented and immigrant students not otherwise previously available for the needs of students in STEM, business, technology, etc.
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor’s Office to support undocumented and immigrant students implementing workshops and resource centers detailing the processes associated with students integrating into postsecondary education whilst being informed of their academics, well-being, and legal rights; such workshops will support immigrants through measures such as Assembly Bill 343 (McCarty, 2017), which exempts students with special immigrant visas from paying nonresident tuition fees, and additionally provide experienced counselors to immigrant students who face academic barriers;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor’s Office to advocate for the security and safety of the undocumented and immigrant student population at California Community Colleges by increasing outreach programs to advocate for protecting student privacy with their rights to pursue a higher form of education and upholding FERPA legal protections to properly inform and mitigate the risk of immigration enforcement searches and detainment for undocumented and immigrant students.
Citations:
[1] California Student Aid Commission. Undocumented Student Affordability Report. California Student Aid Commission, 2023,
https://www.csac.ca.gov/undocumented-student-affordability-report.
[2] Wesson, Carla. "Undocumented Students in California Struggle with Higher Costs, Fewer Resources." CalMatters, 13 Nov. 2023, https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2023/11/undocumented-students/
[3] Higher Ed Immigration Portal. "California." Higher Ed Immigration Portal, 2023,
https://www.higheredimmigrationportal.org/state/california/.
[4] California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. "Undocumented Students." California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, 2023,
https://www.cccco.edu/Students/Support-Services/Special-population/Undocumented-Students.
[5] California Legislature. AB-343 Public Postsecondary Education: Exemption from Nonresident Tuition. California State Legislature, 2017-2018, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB343.
[6] U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). "Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – Frequently Asked Questions." U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2023,
[7] Upwardly Global. Advancing Immigrant Inclusion in Higher Education and Workforce Development. Upwardly Global, Sept. 2023, https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FY23_UPG_LUMINA-REPOR T_WIP_V1-1.pdf.