Working with Undocumented Students A workshop for High School Guidance Counselors, AVID teachers, and other school personnel

My Dissertation

An Exploration of the Knowledge High School Guidance Counselors in Missouri Have as They Assist Undocumented Students Trying to Gain Access to College

My findings:

Concerning undocumented students attempting to gain access to college, high school guidance counselors in Missouri:

Lack awareness

Lack Knowledge

Lack Training

How did these kids get here?Illegal crossingsSmugglingParents encouraged by industryOver-stayed a visa

Don’t forget children who were born here – they are citizens, but their parents are not.

Basic VocabularyUndocumented Student – rather

than Illegal or AlienResident tuition = in-state tuitionNon-resident tuition = out of

state tuitionPermanent Resident = “green

card”Visa – can be work, tourist,

student

Plyler v. Doe (1982)Immigrants have the right to seek a public K-12 education

Denying access to a free public education creates and entire class of people who are “disabled” because of illiteracy

Because these students are not here legally, the government has no responsibility to provide government services

Drachman, 2006

Two laws that affect the issue in 1996Illegal Immigration Reform and

Immigrant Responsibility Act◦Focuses on immigrants – visas, work

permits, deportation, punishment, and pardons

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act◦Focuses on welfare reform

Impacts of 1996 lawsUndocumented Students

CANNOT receive Federal Financial Aid to attend college

No clarification about Resident v. Non-resident Tuition (therefore, states decide)

IMPORTANT MYTH BUSTED

There is no law against undocumented students applying, being admitted, or enrolling in college

DREAM ActDevelopment, Relief, and

Education for Alien Minors (2001)Started as a constitutional

amendmentWas not ratifiedA version has been passed in 12

states:◦California, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland,

Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin

DREAM Act ProvisionsProvide resident tuition for

undocumented students at public institutions

Allows for conditional residents status for 6-8 years while in school or military

After two years, can apply for permanent residency

DREAM Act conditions

Must have entered the US before age 16

Must have lived in the US for at least 5 years

Must have HS diploma or GEDMust have “good moral character”Must be admitted to an institution

or military

FACTS about UDSBetween 50,000 and 60,000 graduate each

yearELL or notOften have triple sub-group status:

◦ Minority◦ Low income◦ First generation college students

Often have college aspirations, but little idea how to get there

May or may not be prepared for college-level course work

Often lack “cultural capital”

College ComplicationsNo access to PELL grants (or any

federal financial aid)May or may not have access to

state financial aid (obviously not in MO)

Usually required to pay non-resident tuition (yes in MO)

Makes affordable schools too expensive

No driver’s license, social security card, passport

Is it about race? Majority of undocumented students

are non-white◦56% Mexico◦22% other Latin American countries◦13% Asian◦6% European and Canadian◦3% African and other parts of the world

Up until 1952 immigration law had two requirements for citizenship: male and white

Could it still be about race? Meritocracy and colorblindness

◦Rewards based on merit◦Claiming to be colorblind and treat

all the same way in an effort to be “fair”

◦Claiming to be neutral and treating everyone the same

This IGNORES the unique needs of undocumented students

Is ethnic discriminationRacist-Nativism – favoring the

white native over the (non-white) foreigner

Many examples throughout US history

Especially apparent toward Latino/as during times of economic downturn

What sort of ethnic discrimination?Immigration issuesLanguage rightsBilingual SchoolingCensus Categories for HispanicsHelplessness concerning statusShame because of the media’s

over-representation of “illegal aliens”

Social CapitalFunctions with two common

elements:◦Some aspect of social structure◦Certain actions result among the

actors within the structureSocial Capital “exists in the

relations among persons”We have to teach college-going

literacies

Colman (1988)

Is Social Capital the Key?Many undocumented students

are victims of poverty, racism, and substandard schooling

Peer networks and school officials can enable poor and minority students access and resources for school success

Gildersleeve & Ranero (2010)

Generation 1.5Immigrant ChildrenArrived before 12Most if not all school in the USOften outpace their parents in

educational attainmentOften forced into adult roles

because of English proficiency

AwarenessThere are no undocumented

students in my schoolWe don’t have migrant workers

living in our districtWe don’t have many ELL

students or all of our ELL students receive services

REALITY – They are hiding in plain sight

Finding your students who are undocumentedStudents who don’t driveStudents who don’t workStudents who have to translate for

their parents (may miss school for this)It’s not illegal to ask, but make sure

there is a trusting relationshipStudents who have been successful in

school, but balk at college discussionsSchool employees are NOT reporters of

immigration status

Breaking the Code of SilenceDisplay DREAMERS paraphernaliaOffer college information in other

languagesMention the ability to help

undocumented students in all college presentations

Educate yourself on the ever-changing laws concerning undocumented students

Secrecy only hurts the students

The cultural wealth undocumented students bringAspirational capital (hopes and

dreams in spite of the odds)Linguistic capital (more than one

language or style)Familial capital (community

history, memory, and culture)Navigational capital (ability to

navigate the dominant society)Resistant capital (ability to

challenge oppression)

How do we help?Guide students to access social

capitalWork on applications for

admissions, scholarships, financial aid

Help students become proficient in written and spoken formal English

Support students in challenging course work

Help students highlight their cultural wealth

What about DACADeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

◦TEMPORARY◦Not a path to citizenship (like the DREAM

Act would provide)◦Must have arrived before 16◦Must have continuously lived in US since

2007◦Must not have had legal immigration status

since 2012◦ In HS, graduated or GED

Postpones (defers) deportation 2 yearsPerson has legal status during that time

WARNINGUndocumented students should

not file FAFSA (ever)Children who are citizens but

whose parents are not should file FAFSSA◦Enter 000000000 for parents SS#◦Will have to print off parent

signature page and send inIndependent student status

(difficult until 23)

ResourcesCollege offices (admission and

financial aid)Many organizations offer good

information◦College Board◦United We Dream◦Hispanic Scholarship Fund◦United Negro College Fund◦UndocU (youtube)

Additional Discussion