Vidya Sethuraman
India Post News Service
As immigration debates continue to shape the national landscape, California Community Colleges are stepping up to ensure students and their families have the support they need to pursue their dreams. Through Find Your Ally (findyourally.com) and the Higher Education Legal Services Project, every student in our system whether full-time or part-time, enrolled in credit, noncredit, dual enrollment, or adult education has access to free, high-quality immigration legal assistance. This includes help with applications, family petitions, consultations, and even coverage of DACA renewal fees. This is the first state-funded effort of its kind in the nation, ensuring that no student has to navigate complex immigration challenges alone. It reflects our system’s commitment to advancing equity, breaking down barriers, and creating pathways for students to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
In the ACom briefing on October 2, cosponsored by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) and the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC), college leaders and immigration legal experts highlighted the services making the biggest difference for immigrant communities and explored the ongoing legal challenges that shape their futures.
According to reports, there are 2.1 million students enrolled in California Community Colleges across the state, of which about 35,000 are undocumented immigrant students. The program is open to all community college students, whether full-time, part-time, credit or non-credit course learners, or even adult education or dual credit course students, regardless of immigration status. In addition, campus faculty and staff also benefit.
Alonso Garcia, Senior Manager, Equity, Foundation for California Community Colleges said this program is unique to California and invests more than $10 million every year to ensure that students can obtain legal aid without financial burden. Garcia pointed out at the press conference that the project cooperates with the Immigration Legal Resource Center and ten trustworthy legal aid agencies to ensure comprehensive and professional service coverage. To date, more than a thousand students have directly benefited. Specialized services include green card and naturalization applications, family reunification, temporary exit permits, and related legal consultations. All consultation processes are strictly confidential. Students can make an appointment with a lawyer through a multilingual online platform, and some campuses also provide face-to-face services.
During the discussion, experts pointed out that California is the only state in the United States that provides such comprehensive legal support in the college system. This initiative not only helps undocumented students, but also provides critical assistance to many international students and family members. “For many young people, this is the guarantee that they can continue to pursue their education and future dreams.” In addition to legal assistance, the program works closely with mental health, financial aid and student affairs departments on campus to establish a comprehensive support network for students. For example, if some students encounter application fee problems during the application process, the project can provide fee reductions or subsidies to ease their financial pressure.
The Higher Education Legal Services Plan not only protects students’ rights and interests, but also embodies the fairness and inclusion of California’s higher education system. Yadira Gutierrez Vargas said, “I hope that through this service, every student, regardless of their status, can feel at ease on the road to pursuing their dreams.”
Also Read: Urgent financial aid application deadline approaches for California Community College students
Thank You For Your Vote!
Sorry You have Already Voted!
