Becoming a Dreamer Ally:

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1 Becoming a Dreamer Ally: Specific considerations for supporting Undocumented/AB540 students in higher education Bronwyn Moreno Director of Student Affairs Special Programs January 18, 2017

2 Agenda Goals, Objectives and Ground Rules Political and Legal Context The Undocumented Student Experience, AB 540, and DACA College Wide Support Becoming an Ally Evaluation & Adjourn

Ally Training Goals Create a welcoming and supportive campus environment for undocumented students, thus assisting their integration into campus life Educate college members on the needs and concerns

3 Ally Training Goals Create a welcoming and supportive campus environment for undocumented students, thus assisting their integration into campus life Educate college members on the needs and concerns of undocumented students and their families and provide sample effective practices to support these students Educate faculty and staff about relevant immigration laws impacting students and related student issues and challenges

4 Context Immigration Patterns, Laws, and the Undocumented

5 Turtle Island

$Today, Latin America and Asia are the big drivers of U.S. immigration, and Europe accounts for just a small fraction of the whole.$

6 Changes in the global economy, and in U.S. immigration law, have dramatically shifted where U.S. immigrants come from. A century ago, U.S. immigrants were overwhelmingly European. Today, Latin America and Asia are the big drivers of U.S. immigration, and Europe accounts for just a small fraction of the whole. Source: by Lam Thuy Vo August 21, :00 AM NPR Census Bureau

Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S. 1. About 11 million undocumented 2. 4.5M citizen children have at least one undocumented parent 3. 1.3 M undocumented Asian immigrants 4.

7 Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S. 1. About 11 million undocumented M citizen children have at least one undocumented parent M undocumented Asian immigrants , ,000 undocumented immigrants of African, Afro Latino and West Indian descent Source: Pew Hispanic Center and Department of Homeland Security

8 What does undocumented mean? An undocumented immigrant is a person who lacks lawful status granted by federal authorities. Overstayed a visa and fell out of status Entered the U.S. without inspection at a border or port of entry Some undocumented persons have DACA providing them with temporary lawful presence.

9 Reasons to immigrate include: Escape poverty Seek better living conditions High presence of violence in home countries Escape domestic violence Reunite with family Wars Study in the U.S. TheDream.US Scholar

11 Immigration Experiential Purpose is to get in touch with our conceptions about the undocumented and to step into their shoes Gather in small groups and divide your time equally Share your thoughts and feelings with your group about the assigned scenario What would you do? How would you feel?

12 What is an Ally? Allies are knowledgeable, empathic, and willing professionals who: Provide a safe, nondiscriminatory environment for undocumented students Respond to incidences of discrimination and harassment Understand, stay apprised of, and act upon policies that support students Assist college members to understand the fears, needs, concerns of students Support the academic, professional, personal and social growth of students

13 Political & Legal Context

14 Important Legislation Affecting Dreamers AB 540, DACA and the California Dream Act Assembly Bill 540 is a California law that allows students who meet certain requirements to qualify as a California resident for tuition purposes Requirements: 1. Attend three years or more in a California school and graduate from a California High School with a High School Diploma or equivalent 2. Complete a non-resident tuition exemption request (AB 540 Affidavit) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a federal Executive Order which allows students who qualify to obtain a temporary social security number and grants access to employment, healthcare, drivers license, credit card, etc. Requirements: 1. Came to US under the age of Are under 31 years of age and physically present in the US on June 15, Have resided continuosly in the US from June 15, 2007 to the present California Dream Act allows qualifying students enrolled in California Colleges to apply for state financial aid (BOG Fee Waiver, Cal Grants)

15 Outcomes for Undocumented Students Source: Center for American Progress, Infographic: Inside the Labyrinth: Undocumented Students in Higher Education

16 Hartnell AB 540 Transfers by Year 50 AB 540 Transfers AB 540 Transfers

17 College-going Undocumented Student Profile These are motivated students * They re highly resilient. * They re working hard and succeeding despite the odds * Students have to ask a lot of questions. They have to figure out who they can trust. They get conflicting information from administrators on campus, who also don t know what the policies are. * *Kaitlin Mulhere, Study Finds undocumented college students face unique challenges, Inside Higher Education, January 26, 2015

18 AB 540 Student Success Rates 80.00% Hartnell Student Success Rates (Course Passage) 78.00% 76.00% 74.00% 72.00% 70.00% 68.00% 66.00% 64.00% All Students AB 540 Students

19 Undocumented Student Profile Most are first-gen and less likely to have basic college knowledge, family income and support, post-college plans, academic preparation, and social capital Are less likely to engage in extracurricular activities on campus and are more in need of professional mentoring and leadership opportunities More likely to experience guilt and/or shame by going away to college More prone to take leave of absences from college Work many more hours each week while enrolled in college than their peers and have less disposable income

In the words of Dreamers I had already put in so much effort (into my education) that I didn t want my residency status to be what kept me from finishing Being somebody without legal residency status

20 In the words of Dreamers I had already put in so much effort (into my education) that I didn t want my residency status to be what kept me from finishing Being somebody without legal residency status put me behind from other students. I never felt really comfortable to tell anybody at Hartnell. Hardly anyone knew about it (that I was undocumented). Because I have been an independent student since I graduated high school I have had to work a lot to support myself financially. I don t have parents that would pay for my housing or my food. When I started Hartnell, they did not even have the BOG fee waiver, so I was even paying for my tuition, books, everything There are few scholarships for students that are AB540. Before DACA, I couldn t even get a job outside the food industry, places where they don t check your social security number. I tried to apply for scholarships but I couldn t because I had to be a legal resident. Because of my status I am not able to get a job on campus. There are other jobs but you put at risk your education because they are at night and they are long hours.

21 Undocumented status impact on students Fear of Deportation (Self* or family members) Not eligible for federal financial aid programs and federally funded programs or benefits No drivers license (DE offers Driving Privilege Cards) No SSN; limited in qualifying for anything that requires a SSN* Not eligible for the Affordable Care Act (have access to emergency care) No work authorization, no paid internships & fellowships* Not eligible for some careers when licensure/background checks are required Cannot travel when official ID is required* Not eligible to work in chosen profession after graduation* *Students with DACA do not have these obstacles all the time.

22 What can this impact lead to? Barriers to many public benefits/ resources No path to residency or citizenship Higher Education = Unaffordable /Limited accessibility Defending and Surviving instead of Living and Thriving

DACA: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals 2012

to apply for work authorization and SSN Legal Status Legal

23 DACA: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals 2012 Presidential Order; not a law vs Amnesty Pathway to Citizenship May stay in the U.S. without being deported during 2 years (renewable) Ability to apply for work authorization and SSN Legal Status Legal Presence Legal Permanent Residence (Green Card) Ability to apply for driver s or professional license

24 Transition to a Nightmare 2.1 million have been in the US since childhood Protected Status Transition to Adulthood Awake to a Nightmare K-12 education is free and legal Most institutions in childhood do not require legal status Immigration status rarely limits activities Late adolescence triggers legal limitations due to immigration laws -Working -Driving -Education -Financial Aid -Socializing Succession of blocked opportunities Fear, stigma, changed social patterns Forced decisions reveal or conceal Physical/ emotional manifestations Gonzalez, Roberto G., Learning to be Illegal: Undocumented Youth and Shifting Legal Context in the Transition to Adulthood, Sage, American Sociological Review, 2011.

25 Mental Health Issues Deportation Family Separation Uncertain Future Pressure Fear Anxiety Depression Shame Substance Abuse Suicide Blaming Alienation Source: Penn for Immigrant Rights, Dream Activist PA, & Immigration Policy Center

26 Mental Health Source: Center for American progress, Infographic: Inside the Labyrinth: Undocumented Students in Higher Education

27 Institutional Deterrents Staff s lack of knowledge regarding legislation Lack of commitment by campuses to serve undocumented students Insensitivity, rudeness and demeaning attitude Students turned away or denied access for failure to provide unnecessary documentation such as a SSN, driver s license and/or residency documentation. In a UCLA study of 909 students across 34 states, they reported experiences of being treated unfairly as follows: Professors %` Counselors - 34% Other students % Fin Aid Officials % Campus Admin % Security/Police % Source: The UndocuScholars Project, The Institute for Immigration, Globalization, & Education, UCLA, In the Shadows of the Ivory Tower: Undocumented Undergraduates and the Liminal State of Immigration Reform, 2014

28 Creating a Safe Campus Openly acknowledge that undocumented students have a right to postsecondary education. Respect the students confidentiality and never out a student. Lift institutional barriers such as burdensome rules that needlessly exclude the undocumented Assist undocumented student affinity groups to organize and elevate their voices. Confront the stigma of the undocumented; and create safe spaces on campus, including physical spaces Create an accessible, visible portal for the public on the campus website. Identify allies; establish connections between allies to build a referral system for students; be informed about the laws that impinge upon students lives, and policies and practices that can contribute to their academic success Adapted from material of the AB 540 Ally Training Project at CSULB and Educators for Fair Consideration

29 National Resources Educators for Fair Consideration

Effective Mentoring Don t convey pity in yourinteractions with students - do something to positively impact their success Make your space a safe zone for undocumented students When you do

30 Effective Mentoring Don t convey pity in yourinteractions with students - do something to positively impact their success Make your space a safe zone for undocumented students When you do not know an answer, don t make one up. Get correct answer so that student s immigration status is not compromised Make sure you are familiar with certain policies (AB 540, DREAM, DACA,etc.)

Being a Proactive Ally How do I create a welcoming, inclusive and equitable environment? How can I increase support for undocumented students in my office, program, and/or department?

31 Being a Proactive Ally How do I create a welcoming, inclusive and equitable environment? How can I increase support for undocumented students in my office, program, and/or department? How can I contribute to a conversation about increasing college-wide capacity to support undocumented students? How can I be an effective Ally and Advocate? What kinds of commitments can I make today?

32 Displaying the Dreamers Welcome Sign The decal should be displayed in an area belonging solely to the individual who has received it. This will alleviate confusion for a student entering the office at large and allow them to confidently reveal their status to an ally.

33 Burning Q & A Evaluation

Giving Voice to the Voiceless. Anderson, Goode, Howard

Giving Voice to the Voiceless. Anderson, Goode, Howard Giving Voice to the Voiceless Anderson, Goode, Howard Session Agenda Changes in Racial Demographics & Campus Climate Undocumented Students African American Males Open Discussion Resources Demographic Trends