Undocumented Student Resources

TRAILBLAZING DREAMERS COLLABORATIVE

UNT Dallas is home to a collaborative composed of dedicated staff who is working hard to ensure we are providing resources and services for our dacamented and undocumented students, while creating a positive change on campus. This collective is known as the Trailblazing Dreamers Collaborative (TDC). Our mission as a Trailblazing Dreamers Collaborative is to advocate for and empower our Dreamer students at UNT Dallas while educating our campus community.

WHAT IS DACA?

DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Established in 2012 by President Barack Obama, DACA allows undocumented individuals who entered the United States as minors to receive a renewable two-year period of “deferred action” or protection from deportation. Some undocumented students at Columbia and at other colleges and universities in the U.S. have DACA status.

DACA enables recipients to further or complete their educations, to work, to obtain drivers’ licenses and social security numbers and build personal credit history. In addition, it allows undocumented individuals to exit and re-enter the country.

DACA status provides protection against deportation. The program currently remains in place.

The U.S. Federal Government grants DACA status on a case-by-case basis. It is not a step towards gaining permanent residency or citizenship.

DACA IS BACK

Effective Oct. 31, 2022, USCIS will accept and process renewal DACA requests and accompanying requests for employment authorization under the final rule, consistent with court orders and an ongoing partial stay. They will also continue to accept and process applications for advance parole for current DACA recipients and will continue to accept but not process initial DACA requests. For more information, please visit the USCIS website.
If you have never had DACA and are eligible, you can apply for the first time.
Advanced Parole has returned to its original form.
1-year renewal for DACA individuals will automatically have the protection extended to two years
If you had DACA previously and it expired more than one year ago or was terminated, you may not request DACA as a renewal, but you may file a new initial DACA request. As addressed above, if you had DACA and it expired less than one year ago, you can request renewal and USCIS will typically accept the request. For more information, visit the USCIS website.

Helpful Tips:

If you currently have DACA, you should request renewal 150-120 days before it expires to minimize the possibility that your current period of DACA expires before you receive a decision on your renewal request.
If you now have DACA, USCIS will accept renewal requests more than 150 days in advance of your DACA expiration; however, this could result in an overlap of your current DACA period and your renewal period.
Typically, USCIS will not reject renewals if the expiration date does not exceed one year.
For frequently asked questions go here.

Resources & Scholarships

My Undocumented Life has up-to-date information and resources for students, including information about scholarships.
Opening Doors International Services has been offering humanitarian and legal immigration services to families and individuals in North Texas since 2003.
North Texas Dream Team: a community-led nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the dreams and goals of students; to educate and bring awareness to everyone, regardless of color, when it comes to issues in our communities.
The Dream.US National scholarship fund for Dreamers who will begin their first year in college and meet Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) eligibility criteria.
La Unidad Latina Foundation Scholarship offers scholarships to current undocumented undergrad and grad students in different degree programs.
United We Dream offers multiple resources for undocumented students and those seeking help with DACA. UWD is the largest immigrant youth-led network in the country.
Informed Immigrant directly evokes deep hope and ambitious mission of providing all undocumented immigrants with the knowledge and resources they need to feel prepared in our unpredictable political and enforcement environment.

Federal

Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) page on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Are you up to date on the Response to January 2018 Preliminary Injunction? Go here.

Legal Assistance and/ Advocacy

Immi is an online screening tools, legal information and referrals to nonprofit legal services organizations from the Immigration Advocates Network and Pro Bono Net, helpful site with lots of legal information. The webpage can be viewed in Spanish and English.
Proyeto Inmigrante ICS, Inc. offers immigration counseling and legal representation services throughout the DFW Metroplex
Light of Hope ILC: Immigration Law Center that serves low-income families who face immigration challenges.