Resources for Undocumented Students

De Anza College provides comprehensive support and resources for undocumented students. Below you'll find information about campus resources, legal assistance, mental health support, community services, and more.

 

Campus Resources

HEFAS (Higher Education for AB 540 Students) 

(HEFAS has moved! They're now located in the East Cottage, near the Flint Garage.)

HEFAS provides peer support and resources to reduce financial stress and help create a safe learning environment for fellow undocumented students. Visit the HEFAS website or drop by the HEFAS Center in the East Cottage (near the Flint Garage). You can also check the HEFAS resources webpage for community organizations and other resources available off campus.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The California Dream Act allows undocumented students to apply for and receive state financial aid. More information is available from De Anza's Financial Aid Office and the California Student Aid Commission.

If you have a parent (or parents) who doesn't have a Social Security Number, the California Student Aid Commission has a special webpage with advice on how students in your situation can apply for financial aid.

Mental Health and Wellness

De Anza students can get free psychological counseling through the campus Mental Health and Wellness Center. The center offers individual sessions and weekly support groups. Plus: You can speak online with a mental health professional through UWill – it's free and available 24/7.

Undocumented students can also find mental health support off campus through the Mental Health Connector service operated by Immigrants Rising, which also maintains an extensive list of other mental health resources.

Services at De Anza

  • HEFAS, or Higher Education for AB 540 Students, provides peer support and resources to reduce financial stress and help create a safe learning environment for fellow undocumented students. Visit the HEFAS Center in the East Cottage (near the Flint Garage).
  • Admissions and Records can help undocumented students qualify under AB 540 for exemption from out-of-state tuition.
  • Financial Aid has information on the California Dream Act, which lets AB 540 students qualify for state and privately funded financial aid at public colleges.
  • The Outreach Office can help answer questions from current and prospective De Anza students who are undocumented.
  • EOPS or Extended Opportunities Programs and Services, provides additional assistance for low-income and disadvantaged students.
  • Undocumented students are entitled to the same protection from sexual harassment and sexual discrimination that Title IX, a federal law, guarantees to all at De Anza.

Legal Resources and Updates

Know Your Rights!

It's important to understand your rights when confronted by authorities. The following organizations have more information available on their websites.

Free Legal Assistance 

Free Immigration Services – Filing Fees Also Covered

Find Your Ally provides free immigration legal services and case support for California community college students, staff and faculty members. This includes covering your DACA and naturalization filing fees!

DACA Updates

monarch butterfly

Despite judicial rulings against the DACA program, courts have issued orders that allow current DACA recipients to maintain their current rights and renew their status. If your DACA status has expired, you may still be eligible to file for renewal under the federal court order. However, some immigration experts recommend that individuals should seek legal advice before filing an application.

  • If you are already enrolled in DACA, your work permit and protection from deportation will remain in effect until they were scheduled to expire – generally two years after you enrolled. 
  • DACA is a federal program and any legal challenges to DACA do not affect your eligibility to attend De Anza or any community college in California.
  • Legal challenges to DACA also do not affect your ability to qualify under AB 540 for exemption from non-resident tuition, or to apply for state financial aid under the California Dream Act.
  • These groups have more information about applying to renew DACA status

Community Resources

  • Amigos de Guadalupe is a community organization based in San José that operates housing, immigration, mental health and educational programs.
  • Immigrants Rising is a Bay Area nonprofit that supports undocumented people through policy work and direct services in education, immigration law and mental health. 
  • Sacred Heart Community Service supports residents in San José and nearby communities by providing assistance with food, clothing, education, housing, employment and other needs.
  • West Valley Community Services operates food, housing and other safety net services for low-income residents of Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Gatos, and West San José.

My Undocumented Life

Check out My Undocumented Life, a blog with helpful tips and stories about navigating the educational system – including the admissions process, DACA, financial aid and more –  written by current and former undocumented students. 
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