WHEREAS, Approximately there are 2,677,000 students in higher education in California, and some reports show that roughly 70,000-100,000 of them are undocumented students with some statistics pinning down the number to 102,938 in reports from June 2025 [1]; however, only 38,595 of these students are eligible for DACA while the remaining 64,343 face financial barriers to pursue their education;
WHEREAS, The California Department of Education has demonstrated that one in five children in California are members of mixed status families, in which one or both parents are undocumented; however, 93% of these students are United States citizens that still face psychological trauma every day due to the threat of losing their family members and these statistics are gradually present and manifested in community college students as well [2]; and
WHEREAS, A nonprofit organization for the coalition for humane immigrant rights known as CHIRLA, advocates for the rights of immigrants and has partnered with community colleges [3] and in 2020, CHIRLA launched its student legal service initiative which help undocumented students with their immigration case; however only 18 California college campuses were in the first initiative; Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with CHIRLA to establish offices/help centers in every single community college campus to distribute and reaffirm informational, as well as support not only undocumented students but also their families;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor's Office to support undocumented and immigrant students by implementing workshops that serve as a safe space for students to inform themselves about their immigration status or their family’s status; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor’s Office to recommend the expansion for CHIRLA in community colleges in an attempt to improve the nonprofits organization recognition so that every student is aware of this organization and its support centers.
Citations:
- California - Data on Immigrant Students | Higher Ed Immigration Portal
- Including Immigrant Families - Parents/Family & Community (CA Dept of Education)
- Mission & History - The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
- Breakdown of the Undocumented Student Population in the U.S. Colleges and Universities - Presidents' Alliance
- The California Master Plan for Higher Education - The California Promise
- Undocumented Students Are Living in Fear on College Campuses. The Effects of Campus Raids - EdTrust