Resources for Undocumented Students

NOCE Supports Undocumented Students and Students from Mixed Status Families

Statement of Support by Valentina Purtell:

Resources

Academic Support

• Academic Counseling

  Academic Counseling: Students meet with a counselor to discuss academic goals, plan courses, and review their progress.  The counselor can assist students with major selection, transfer planning, and career choices. Contact us today to make an appointment with a counselor.
• Grads To Be Program

  The Grads to Be Program supports undocumented students and students with mixed-status families by providing resources and services to enhance and support their academic journey and personal well-being. The program fosters a supportive and inclusive community, which is essential to the growth of all students, regardless of their status.

  Counselors are essential in a student’s educational journey, especially at NOCE. They provide guidance for ESL, high school diplomas, GED, career education, and college transitions, aiming to improve retention and completion rates. The Grads To Be program also offers legislative rights, DACA, and financial aid information. For additional information, can contact us at grads2b@noce.edu.
• Scholarship Program

  NOCE Student Scholarships: NOCE offers scholarship opportunities to current students for books, tuition, and supplies. Some scholarships can provide funds for living expenses. Visit www.noce.edu/scholarships for more information including various scholarships, applications, and deadlines.
• Immigrants Rising

  Please visit the Immigrants Rising website for more information. 

  For questions regarding legal assistance, please email: legalintake@immigrantsrising.org.

  To find immigration non-profit legal help service agencies near you, visit the Immigrantion Law Help website.

  

  Immigrants Rising: Get valuable information and resources from Immigrants Rising and visit their undocuhustle website here: https://immigrantsrising.org/get-your-undocuhustle-on/

  Immigrants Rising Scholarship: Immigrants Rising provides scholarships for undocumented students. For more information on these scholarships, visit: https://immigrantsrising.org/category/financial-support/

   
• CHIRLA

  

  The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) is a Los Angeles county-based organization focusing on immigrant rights.

  Please visit the CHIRLA website for more information on their programs and legal services.

  CHIRLA conducts legal intake consultations by phone and by appointment only.

  • How can I get a consultation appointment?
  • Call (213) 201-3797 on Mondays and Wednesdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and leave a message requesting an appointment.
  • Staff will return your call to conduct an intake interview
• AB540, AB2000, and SB68
  • AB540: California Assembly Bill 540 passed into law in 2001 that states certain nonresident students are exempt from paying nonresident supplemental tuition. Therefore, those who qualify for AB540 – both undocumented and U.S citizen students – will be charged in-state tuition and fees.
  • AB2000: California Assembly Bill 2000 passed in 2014, expanding the definition of students eligible for AB540. This bill now allows a larger undocumented population to qualify for resident tuition fees.
  • SB68: California Senate Bill 68 passed into law in 2017 that expands on AB540. SB68 enables students to count years spent at a California Community College and adult education toward AB540 eligibility. Additionally, SB68 allows the completion of an associate degree or satisfaction of the minimum requirements to transfer to the University of California or California State University as sufficient for students to qualify for in-state tuition and financial aid.

  For more information:

  • Visit: Immigrants Rising – In-state tuition overview
  • California Residency for Tuition Purposes
  • SB68 Fact Sheet
  • Fact Sheet: Submitting the AB540/AB2000/SB68 Affidavit
• California Dream Act

  The California Dream Act allows some undocumented students to apply for and receive state-based financial aid and institutional scholarships. Passing the California Dream Act symbolizes a milestone victory for undocumented students and allies in California who organized and advocated for increased access to college. This represents a critical investment in undocumented students and in the future of California.

  The types of aid included in the CA Dream Act are: Cal Grants, UC Grants, State University Grants, California College Promise Grant and EOP or EOPS grants. It also includes the Middle-Class Scholarships and school-specific scholarships. The CA Dream Act can also give you access to Dream Loans at the CSU or UC, even if you are undocumented.

  For more information:

  • Visit: Immigrants Rising – In-state tuition overview
  • Understanding the Differences – In-State Tuition and California Dream Act
• AB60

  What is AB 60?

  California law that allows California residents to apply and obtain a driver’s license regardless of immigration status as long as they meet the needed criteria.

  What are the requirements?

  • Proof of identity and California residency
  • Fill out DL-44 application
  • Pay application fee
  • Pass written & behind the wheel tests

  California DMV Link
• DACA

  What is DACA: DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of one year, subject to renewal. They are also eligible for work authorization. Deferred action is a use of prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a certain period of time. Deferred action does not provide lawful status.

  For more information:

  • Visit: Immigrants Rising – DACA

Frequently Asked Questions:

• What if ICE comes to campus?

  Can I release student information to law enforcement officials?

  Not without official permission from the Vice President of Student Services of NOCE. Student information is governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which protects student data.

  Will NOCE Campus Safety enforce federal immigration laws?

  No. NOCE will:

  • Not enter into agreements with law enforcement agencies or federal departments for the enforcement of federal immigration law.
  • Not honor immigration hold requests.
  • Not contact, detain, question or arrest individuals solely based on declared or suspected immigration status.
  • NOCE will continue to work at all levels of government to advocate for the rights of our diverse student population to obtain a quality education.

  Since NOCE is an open campus, can law enforcement officials access all areas of campus without permission?

  No. Although NOCE is a public institution, there are areas in our centers that have limited access, including classrooms, locked offices or areas marked as “authorized personnel” that cannot be accessed without official NOCE permission.
• What have we done to prepare?

  Staff regularly attend the local LULAC Chapter meetings. 

  NOCE leadership attends training and receives regular training from the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration where best practices have been implemented on this website 

  NOCE is a proud partner of Los Amigos de Orange County organization and receives regular communication regarding local preparation for our undocumented community and allies. 

  Campus Communications attends the Orange County Immigration Coalition Meetings 

  Presentations to the Management Team, faculty, Public Safety, Student Leaders, and Student Success Navigators were conducted to educate these groups with the current information. Additional training sessions are being planned for A&R and other staff serving students directly. 

  These are just some of the ways that NOCE is preparing to educate our community on their rights and communicate our support of all students and employees. 
• What laws protect undocumented student data privacy?

  FERPA at NOCE 

  Senate Bill (SB) – 54 and Assembly Bill (AB) – 21 

  Assembly Bill (AB) 21 – California Values Act, and Assembly Bill (“AB”) 21), which prohibited state and local agencies from using resources to further certain federal immigration enforcement efforts. 

  Senate Bill (SB) 54 – Provides Guidance for Community College Police The Education Code authorizes the governing board of a community college district to establish a community college police department under the supervision of a community college chief of police. (Ed. Code, § 72330, subd (a).) Community college police are sworn peace officers. (Ed. Code, § 72330, subd (c); Penal Code, § 830 et seq.) SB 54 prohibits state and local law enforcement from using money or personnel to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest persons, or to conduct other activities, for immigration enforcement purposes. (Gov. Code, § 7284.6.) Exceptions exist related to individuals who have committed serious crimes. (Gov. Code, § 7282.5, subd (a).) 
• What is AB-540?

  AB 540 is a California state law that allows eligible students, including undocumented students, to pay in-state tuition at California’s public colleges and universities. 
• What is the California Dream Act?

  The California DREAM Act is a package of California state laws that allow undocumented students who were brought into the US as children to apply for student financial aid benefits. These students must have attended school on a regular basis and meet in-state tuition and GPA requirements.