Historically

Underserved
Students:
Undocumented
Youth
Presentation By:
Shalom Ramirez and Beatrice Mackay
EDSC 511 Legal & Ethical Issues
Dr. Ligia Hallstrom
April 13, 2023
 01
Current Issues &
Challenges
 Current Issues & Challenges Faced By
Undocumented Youth:
Issues with learning due to lack of English proficiency
1 ● “44% of UY over the age of 5, speak English at the level “not well” or
“not at all”

2
Bullying at school
● “Due to a rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric… this rhetoric often lead to
increased bullying from inside the school”

3 Mental Health Issues & Low Academic Performance

● In fear of worksite or home raids, this caused UY to have mental health problems
and perform low in schools.

Problems applying to college and employment

4 ● In most states, UY are not eligible for federal
loans/financial aid, and scholarships.
● UY cannot get high-paying jobs due to lack of high school
and/or college education.
Source: (NASSP, 2021)
 02
Federal &
Education-Related
Laws
 Federal & Educational Laws
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
1
(DACA)
● A federal law created by President Obama back in 2012. This law
provides a 2-year deportation relief and work eligibility for
undocumented youth who came to the US as children.
Developmental, Relief, and
2 Education for Alien Minors
(DREAM ACT)
● A legislative proposal to help immigrant students
receive higher education. Although proposed in 2001, it
was never enacted. CA enacted the DREAM ACT in
2011, to provide immigrant students with CAL Grants
and college-funded scholarships.

Source: (The Education Trust-West, 2018)

 03
Laws Impact on
Students
 DACA’s Impact on Students Mental Health
1 Under DACA:
● Before DACA, about 31% of young adults reported high levels of
depressive symptoms (Sudhinaraset et. al, 2022).
● Before DACA, UY suffered from chronic symptoms of
sadness,worry, depression, and suicidal ideations (Aranda, n.d.).
● After DACA, it brought relief and improved UY’s mental health
(Aranda, n.d.).
● Avoid deportation
● Obtain “TPS” temporary protected status
● Work permits renew every 2 years.
● Ability to travel outside the US via DACA Advance Parole.
● Apply for a driver’s license and SSN (Boundless, 2023).
● Eligible for medicaid/ medical coverage (Boundless, 2023).
● Some states allow DACA students to receive in-state tuition aid.
● Eligible for Governor Fee Waiver.
● Through DACA, UY were able to live normal lives like their peers
(Aranda, n.d.).

Source: (UC Berkeley, 2022),

(Boundless, 2023)
 DREAM ACT Impact on Students
Educational Functioning
2 Under DREAM ACT (CA):
● Can now attend and cover the cost of
public colleges.
● Are eligible for Cal Grants,
Institution-specific scholarships, loan
programs.
● SSN are no longer needed to apply for
federal student aid (FAFSA).
● Allow to serve in the U.S. armed
forces.
● Undocumented Youth can now have
access to higher education and
higher-paying jobs.

Source: (California Student Aid Commission, 2021)

 04
How to Apply Laws
as a School
Counselor
How to Apply DACA and DREAM ACT as a School
Counselor
School Counselors can:
1) Hold workshops to inform students what financial aid are available via the CA
Dream Act.
2) Help students fill out their free FAFSA forms
i) SSN is not needed; put “000-00-000” for parent’s SSN.
3) Help students renew DACA application.
i) Were under age 31 on June 15, 2012 (born on June 16, 1981 or
after).
ii) *In July 2021 a federal judge barred new applicants; applicants
prior to July 16, 2021 are still valid (Boundless, 2023).
4) Work with your school to provide resources to students.
i) Mental health counseling, legal services, CBO’s etc.
5) Create K-12 lessons for classrooms on issues affecting undocumented
students.
6) Advocate faculty and staff to receive training to best help undocumented
students and create a school climate that is a safe-haven.

Source: (California Teachers Association, 2020).

 References
Aranda, E. (n.d.). How DACA affected the mental health of undocumented young adults. The Conversation.

https://theconversation.com/how-daca-affected-the-mental-health-of-undocumented-young-adults-83341

Boundless. (2023, March 8). What Is DACA? Everything You Need to Know.

https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/what-is-daca/#:~:text=DACA%20recipients%20are%20not%20U.S.,or%20a%20pathway%20to%20citize

nship.

California Student Aid Commission. (2021, November). California Dream Act FAQ’s for Students and Parents. www.csac.ca.gov.

https://www.csac.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/california_dream_act_faq.pdf?1638916041#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20California%20Dream%20

Act%3F&text=universities%2C%20state%20administered%20financial%20aid,any%20public%20college%20in%20California.

California Teachers Association. (2020, October 1). Immigrant Students: Educators Can Help - California Teachers Association.

https://www.cta.org/educator/posts/immigrant-students-educators-can-help

May Sudhinaraset, Irving Ling, Leiwen Gao, Josue Chavarin & Gilbert C. Gee (2022) The association between Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, health access, and

mental health: the role of discrimination, medical mistrust, and stigma, Ethnicity & Health, 27:5, 1075-1087, DOI: 10.1080/13557858.2020.1850647

NASSP. (2021, March 8). Undocumented Students. https://www.nassp.org/top-issues-in-education/position-statements/undocumented-students/

The Education Trust-West. (2018, January). Undocumented Students in California: What You Should Know. west.edtrust.org.

https://west.edtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ETW_CA-Undocumented-Students-What-You-Need-to-Know-FINAL-April-2017_Jan2018.pdf

UC Berkeley. (2022, October 20). What is DACA? - Undocumented Student Program.

https://undocu.berkeley.edu/legal-support-overview/what-is-daca/#:~:text=DACA%20gives%20undocumented%20immigrants%3A%201,be%20renewed%20

every%20two%20years.&text=On%20January%2020%2C%202021%2C%20President,both%20preserve%20and%20fortify%20DACA.