Undocumented Student Guide
Scholarships and Financial Aid Opportunities for Undocumented Students
Texas Application for State Financial Assistance (TASFA)
http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/index.cfm?objectid=a3119543-cbf8-c202-f1b0eefd5f4b9805
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Students that cannot apply for federal financial aid or FAFSA.
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Students must be classified as a Texas Resident.
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Application comes in English and Spanish as well with instructions on how to fill out the application.
Toward EXcellence, Access, and Success Grant Program (TEXAS Grant)
http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/apps/financialaid/tofa2.cfm?ID=458#:~:text=To%20be%20eligible%20for%20a,institution%20as%20a%20Texas%20resident&text=Have%20financial%20need%2C%20as%20determined,crime%20involving%20a%20controlled%20substance
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Be classified by the institution as a Texas Resident.
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Not have been convicted of felony or crime involving a controlled substance.
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Make sure to complete your TASFA beforehand. *For the 20-21 academic year: an eligible student may receive up to $5,039 per semester.
Student Emergency Aid Fund
Started back in 2019, the Student Emergency Aid Fund was created to help students who have financial needs that cannot be remedied any other way. Any student at SFASU is eligible to apply, including undocumented students.
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Must be due to a sudden financial emergency.
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A one-time grant.
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The amount of the grant is up to $1,000.
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You cannot apply for this grant again once you receive it.
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Contact the Dean of Students for further assistance. Provide your full name and student ID in an email to dosa@sfasu.edu.
TheDream.US
TheDream.US is the largest college access and success program for DREAMers. Learn more about it here (https://www.thedream.us/about-us/)
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National Scholarship: For students that have DACA or TPS (https://www.thedream.us/scholarships/national-scholarship/).
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Opportunity Scholarship: for high school graduates that live in states that do not offer in-state tuition to DREAMERS (https://www.thedream.us/scholarships/opportunity-scholarship/).
Betancourt Macias Family Scholarship Foundation
Five $1000 scholarships for undocumented students of different backgrounds (https://www.undocuscholars.com/)
- The Claudia Patricia Gómez González Scholarship: Open to undocumented people from any Central American country (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjfCURQUeuv0r8SsTev-0pxcWglSr0FhzcfCna3bM20bNHTg/viewform)
- The Victoriano Macias Luevano Scholarship: Open to any undocumented student (high school seniors/undergrad/graduate/med students) (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSej6iyD9it50XQ1nF86f8nLiBE9aaGlwnwKgdRZ5lZEQ2WG8A/viewform)
- Black is Brilliant Scholarship: Open to any undocumented students that identify as Afro/African/Black (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkMMO0oOAtcwvJGYccoUClacWLjVJdHrouG4NXtgHjAROdmQ/viewform)
- El Derecho A Soñar (The Right To Dream) Scholarship: Open to undocumented parents Option to write essay in your language (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScy8uagsLl2wFqj6LI8R7QDt2-gE_4yIAtWbaiTHm-WNKVhtA/viewform)
- Mariposa Sin Fronteras Scholarship: Open to undocumented students that also identify as LGBTQIA+ (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQ0XEijCKqT15t6RXvQZ3lBi9iQq61LdqbG1QGmWA0vsAD5g/viewform)
Lambda Theta Alpha (LTA) Foundation Scholarship
Undocumented students with or without DACA are eligible! LTA members as well as non-members are encouraged to apply! Deadline is May 31, 2021.
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Amount of awarded is $1,000.00.
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Website to learn more about the LTA Foundation: https://www.ltafoundation.org/scholarships
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Link to LTA Foundation Scholarship Application: https://form.jotform.com/210566244179155
Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
https://davisputter.org/apply-for-scholarships/
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Aids students who are active in social justice movements. The Fund considers the applicant's contribution to social justice, ability to perform academically, and relevance of educational programs, as well as their financial need.
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Open to undocumented students!
Que Llueva Café Scholarship
http://www.ca-core.org/home
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Must be of Chicano/Latino Descent.
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Must be an undocumented student/be a high school or GED graduate who will enroll for the first time in an accredited college or university in the U.S.
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Award: $500
Hispanic Scholarship Consortium: Scholars Program
https://www.hispanicscholar.org/apply
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Be of Hispanic/Latino heritage.
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Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher (on 4.0 scale).
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Undocumented students are eligible to apply!
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Plan to enroll in an accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university in the U.S.
La Unidad Latina Foundation (LULF) Scholarship
Link to website for scholarship (opens Sept. 1- Oct. 15): https://www.lulf.org/index.html
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Offered to Latino/Hispanic students in 4-year colleges.
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Minimum of 2.80 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale.
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Undergraduates must have completed one year of study/graduate applicants must have completed at least one semester.
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Check this to see if LULF supports your program of study: https://worldscholarshipforum.com/la-unidad-latina-foundation-scholarship/.
Korean American Scholarship Foundation
https://www.kasf.org/apply/
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Open to undocumented students with a Korean Heritage.
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Scholarship awards can range between $500-$5,000 each.
Western Union Foundation Global Scholarship Program
https://scholarshipamerica.org/students/browse-scholarships/apply-for-the-dream-award/
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Scholarships must be used at an accredited postsecondary institution and the recipient must be seeking an undergraduate degree.
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Must provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher or professor
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Also open to international students!
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Please continue to check the scholarship's webpage for the opening date of the scholarship application!
Scholarship American Dream Award
https://scholarshipamerica.org/students/browse-scholarships/apply-for-the-dream-award/
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DACA students are eligible for this opportunity
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Must have completed or expected to successfully complete a minimum of one full year of postsecondary education by June of the year after applying. (Example: June 2022 if applying in 2021).
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Must be working to obtain an associate's or first bachelor's degree.
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Must have a minimum of a 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.
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Must demonstrate a financial need.
Legal Aid and Related Services
- Lone Star Legal Aid - Nacogdoches Office: (https://lonestarlegal.blog/offices/nacogdoches-office/). Address: 414 East Pilar Street Nacogdoches, TX 75961-5511. Phone: (936) 560-1455
- Fischer & Fischer, Attorneys at Law: (https://www.fischerfischerlaw.com/). Address: 114 South Pecan Street Nacogdoches, TX 75961. Phone: (936) 564-2222
- Haglund Law Firm, P.C.: (http://www.haglundlaw.com/). Address: 107 W Kerr Ave Lufkin, TX 75904. Phone: (936) 639-0007
- The Title IX Office - Stephen F. Austin State University: (https://www.sfasu.edu/lumberjacks-care/) Location: McKibben Building, Suite 304. Address: 2006 Raguet Street North P.O. Box 13074 Nacogdoches, TX 75962-307 (titleix@sfasu.edu). Phone: (936) 468-8292
- Nacogdoches Public Library: (https://www.nactx.us/962/Library). The Nacogdoches Public Library offers a study group for people wanting to prepare for the civics portion of the citizen naturalization exam. Location: Nacogdoches Public Library 1112 North St. Nacogdoches, TX 75961. Phone: (936) 559-2970. Sessions are free to join, no registration required, and can be attended in any order. Please visit their website or call to ask for further information regarding dates and times for study groups and other events.
- Informed Immigrant: website that can assist you in finding your nearest DACA clinic or sign up for virtual clinics. (https://www.informedimmigrant.com/daca-clinics/)
- DACA Renewal Calculator: website for recipients that need to renew their DACA. The calculator tells the person the dates after and before that their application must be turned in based on the recipient's employment authorization document (EAD). (https://www.nilc.org/issues/daca/dacarenewalcalculator/)
Websites, Books, Articles & Academic Journals about Undocumented Students
My Undocumented Life:
- A website with up-to-date information & resources for undocumented immigrants. https://mydocumentedlife.org/
- A curated list of publications that were written by currently or formerly undocumented individuals: https://mydocumentedlife.org/2020/10/14/undocuscholarship-check-out-the-work-of-formerly-currently-undocumented-scholars/
- Free Google Drive with different works: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fFllq-Y9gTtZ5Ae9d_frYZYtwnM7QEny
Adelitas Apparel:
- An immigrant owned sister store whose goal is to uplift one another through learning and unlearning. https://adelitasapparel.com/
- Not only is Adelita's an immigrant owned store but they also created a DACA Fund for which DACA recipients can apply so they'll have help in renewing their applications. The DACA Fund application may or may not be open, but consider checking it out: https://adelitasapparel.com/collections/daca-renewal-fund
MALDEF:
- Scholarship Resources for Latino/Hispanic students, undocumented or not: https://www.maldef.org/resources/scholarship-resource-guide/
UndocuBlack Network:
- A network fighting to create space for currently and formerly undocumented Black immigrants to not only survive, but thrive. https://undocublack.org/
Black Alliance for Justice Immigration (BAJI):
- BAJI educates and engages African American and black immigrant communities to organize and advocate for racial, social and economic justice. https://baji.org/
Students Gather at Rally to Protect and Support DACA:
Black Immigrant Lives Are Under Attack:
- Every single aspect of the immigration system is nasty, but the U.S. makes it especially nasty if you're Black. https://www.raicestexas.org/2020/07/22/black-immigrant-lives-are-under-attack/
Undocumented and Black:
- A recent college graduate shatters the perception that immigration reform is only a Latino issue. https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/05/undocumented-and-black/484823/
Undocumented, Black, and Unseen:
The Prison-to-Deportation Pipeline:
The Overlooked Undocumented Immigrants: From India, China, Brazil:
'I Thought I Was The Only Asian American American DACA Recipient Out There':
In the Fight for Immigration Reform, Where Are Asian Activists?:
- Here, Jong-Min You shares his story and insights on why Asian immigrants may be more reluctant than Latino immigrants to rally for, and take advantage of, their political rights. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/takeaway/segments/being-undocumented
Future of Undocumented Filipino 'Dreamers' at Stake in US Election:
Here's What You Need To Know About Sanctuary Campuses:
- There's a growing movement to make Texas college campuses safe for undocumented immigrants. https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/heres-need-know-sanctuary-campuses/
****TW: Suicide, Mental Illness****
Immigrant's suicide leaves behind pain:
Disillusioned Young Immigrant Kills Himself, Starting an Emotional Debate:
Abrego, L. J. & Negron-Gonzales, G. (2020). We Are Not Dreamers: Undocumented Scholars Theorize Undocumented Life in the United States. Duke University Press. Available for FREE via ebook on SFASU library: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/sfasu-ebooks/reader.action?docID=6317997
Hall, Rachele M., "The Era of Trump: How Jamaican DACA Recipients are Coping with the 2017 DACA Policy Change" (2019). Education Doctoral. Paper 426. https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/education_etd/426/
Feldblum, M., Hubbard, S., Lim, A., Penichet-Paul, C., & Siegel, H. (2020). Undocumented students in higher education. New American Economy & Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. https://www.immigrationresearch.org/node/3024
Leslie Jo Shelton (2019) Undocumented Latinx College Students' Perceptions of Campus Climate, Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 56:1, 92-104. https://www-tandfonline-com.steenproxy.sfasu.edu/doi/full/10.1080/19496591.2018.1519438
Andrade, L. M. (2021). "The War Still Continues," Part II: The Importance of Positive Validation for Undocumented Students One Year After Trump's Presidential Victory. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 20(1), 3-16. https://journals-sagepub-com.steenproxy.sfasu.edu/share/CMASD26PTHSAG4EABQMV?target=10.1177/1538192718823186
Zhang, Muyi (2019). Model Illegal Alien: How Undocumented Asian Americans "Deserve" Citizenship. Honors thesis, Duke University. https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspace/handle/10161/19106
Lee, Ka Kui, "Undocumented Asian Immigrants: Securing Higher Education and Cultural Citizenship" (2020). Master's Theses. 1287. https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/1287
Yasuike, A. (2019). Stigma Management and Resistance among High-Achieving Undocumented Students. Sociological Inquiry, 89(2), 191-213. http://steenproxy.sfasu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sih&AN=135775755&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Andrade, L. M. (2019). "The War Still Continues": The Importance of Positive Validation for Undocumented Community College Students After Trump's Presidential Victory. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 18(3), 273-289 https://journals-sagepub-com.steenproxy.sfasu.edu/share/SRQCP6JPI5TF8H5GSKUH?target=10.1177/1538192717720265