ALMASS
Advocacy Leadership for imMigrant Access Support Services
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links to gain access to all the resources available. Should you have
any questions please feel free to contact our supporting staff.
The
ALMASS (Advocacy Leadership for imMigrant Access Support Services) is
the voice of the AB540/DACA students at SJCC. The mission of the program
is to provide access, built on the foundation of educational equity,
social justice and opportunities for eligible students. The ALMASS
program aims to empower AB540/DACA students, their families and college
community in being informed leaders.
SJCC now has an ALMASS club. Join the Club!
Assembly
Bill 540 is a California law that allows qualified students to pay
in-state tuition at the State's institutions of higher education. AB540 does not grant State or Federal financial eligibility, and only
provides an exemption to the requirements of paying non-resident
tuition.
To qualify as an AB540 student, undocumented students must meet the following:
- Have
attended a California High School for 3 or more full academic years
between grades 9 through 12 (they do not need to be consecutive years)
- Be
(or will be) a graduate from a California High School or have attained a
GED or received a passing mark on the California High School
Proficiency Exam (CHSPE)
- Register or be currently enrolled at an accredited institution of public higher education in California
- File
or plan to file an Affidavit as required by individual institutions,
stating that he/she will apply for legal residency as soon as possible
- Not hold a valid non-immigrant visa (F, J, H, L, A, E, etc.)
No. DACA is not legislation. DACA is a modified process in which Homeland
Security allows certain individuals, who meet specific guidelines, to
request consideration of deferred action from USCIS. Individuals who are
eligible to received deferred action will not be removed from the
United States during a specific period of time unless deferred action is
terminated. If you received deferred action, you may be eligible for
employment authorization.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA):
DACA
is an exercise of prosecutorial discretion that provides temporary
relief from deportation (deferred action) and work authorization to
certain young people brought to the United States as children—often
called "DREAMers." The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) first
launched the initiative in 2012, and since that time it has helped over
700,000 eligible young adults move into mainstream life in the United
States, thereby improving their social and economic well-being. To
qualify under the original initiative, individuals must demonstrate that
they:
- Were under the age of 31 on June 15, 2012
- Arrived in the United States before turning 16
- Continuously resided in the United States from June 15, 2007 to the present
- Were
physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, as well as at
the time of requesting deferred action from U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or any lawful immigration status expired on or before June 15, 2012
- Are
either in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of
completion from high school, have obtained a general education
development (GED) certificate, or are honorably discharged veterans of
the U.S. Coast Guard or the U.S. Armed Forces; and
- Have
not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or
more other misdemeanors occurring on different dates and arising out of
different acts, omissions, or schemes of misconduct, and do not
otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety
Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA):
DAPA is
a prosecutorial discretion program administered by USCIS that provides
temporary relief from deportation (called deferred action) and work
authorization to unauthorized parents of U.S. citizens or Lawful
Permanent Residents (LPRs). The DAPA program resembles the DACA program
in some important aspects, but the eligibility criteria are distinct. The program will be open to individuals who:
- have a U.S. citizen or LPR son or daughter as of November 20, 2014
- have continuously resided in the United States since before January 1, 2010
- are physically present in the United States on November 20, 2014, and at the time of applying
- have no lawful immigration status on November 20, 2014
- are
not an enforcement priority, which is defined to include individuals
with a wide range of criminal convictions (including certain misdemeanors), those suspected of gang involvement and terrorism, recent unlawful entrants, and certain other immigration law violators
- present no other factors that would render a grant of deferred action inappropriate; and
- pass a background check
DAPA grants will last for three years. The DAPA program should be ready to receive applications within 180 days.
- You cannot be denied admission to a California college or university based on your immigration status
- You
are not required to pay out-of-state, international, capital outlay, or
penalty fees (which may be charged to out-of-state and/or international
students) to enroll at a California college or university if you
qualify for AB540
- You are not required to show proof of legal residency status or proof of application for legal residency status
IF YOU NEED HELP:
Some college staff may be unaware of AB540 or may interpret the law
incorrectly. If you feel that your rights under AB540 have been denied,
contact Fabio Gonzalez.
Although the AB540 law does give a student the opportunity to pay in-state tuition fees, he/she is not eligible for any traditional federal and/or California State financial aid programs. Therefore, SJCC is committed to making the dream of higher education possible for AB540 students by offering extra services.
The following are some of the services available to ALMASS Students:
Counseling (Academic, Career, and Personal)
*Financial Aid Assistance: CA Promise Grant, CA Dream Act application, scholarships (See tab below)
Book Voucher
Lending Library
Lending Technology (laptops/calculators)
College resources/school materials
Career Assessment
Study Skills Workshops
University field trips
VTA Eco Passes
Referral to legal immigration counsel
Other student conferences
Financial Aid Assistance: As
of January 2013, AB540 students are eligible to apply for California State
financial aid (not FAFSA). The primary benefit of this law is the eligibility to pay tuition at
California resident rates.
Nonresident students taking 12 college units per
semester pay approximately $3,008. AB540-eligible students will pay
approximately $572 per semester.
The California Dream Act of 2011 was passed in two laws:
AB130 & AB131. These laws allow AB540-eligible students to apply for:
Institutional Financial Aid: As of January 2013, AB540 students are eligible for State Financial Aid grants like Cal Grants and Chafee. They are also eligible for State funded programs like the California Promise Grant fee-waiver, EOPS, and CARE.
Privately Funded Scholarships: SJCC offers various general and major specific scholarships. Starting January 2013, AB540 students will also be able to apply for SJCC scholarships that require CA Promise Grant fee waiver eligibility.
