This document provides information about undocumented students and guidance for counselors advising them. It begins with an introduction of the presenter and his background. It then discusses the importance of serving undocumented students, explaining their numbers and challenges obtaining legal status or financial aid. The document outlines counseling approaches for building trust and encouraging students. It provides updates on the DREAM Act and other policies, as well as resources for counselors and students.

1. DREAMers:
Serving the Undocumented Student Population
Presented by
Roberto Suarez
Guidance Counselor
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Email: rsuarez@hf233.org
Website: www.depaul.digication.com/suarezforeducation
IACAC Summer Institute
July 24, 2012

2. About Me
Roberto Suarez is a Guidance Counselor at Homewood-Flossmoor High
School. His previous positions were held at the Illinois Mathematics
and Science Academy, where he counseled gifted students in a
residential setting, and Lewis University, where he served as an
Assistant Director of Admission and recruited high school students
from districts within the Chicagoland areas and from abroad.
Roberto is a first generation college graduate who has worked in the
fields of education, business, law, and public relations. He holds a
bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology, along with
master degrees in business administration and school counseling.
Currently, Roberto is enrolled in the educational doctorate program at
DePaul University. Over the past several years, Roberto has presented
on topics regarding undocumented students, multicultural
counseling, counseling gifted students, writing letters of
recommendation, and organizational leadership.

3. Immigration: E Pluribus Unum
“America was indebted to
immigration for her settlement and prosperity.”
– James Madison
Joseph Pulitzer (1868) Albert Einstein (1940) Alexander Graham Bell (1915)
Born in Hungary Born in Germany Born in Scotland

4. Why is this issue important?
 There are approximately 1.5 million undocumented students
in the U.S. under the age of 18 (U.S. Census 2000)
 Approximately 50,000 to 70,000 undocumented students
graduate from U.S. high schools each year (Center for Urban
Economic Development, 2003)
 Approximately 3,500 undocumented students graduate from
Chicago high schools each year (Center for Urban Economic
Development, 2003)
 40% of all undocumented students live in California
(CHIRLA)
 In 1997, U.S. acquired a $50 billion surplus from taxes paid
by immigrants (National Academy of Sciences & National
Research Council, 1997)

5. Green Cards and Visas
According to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant
and Refugee Rights:
 Existing avenues for gaining legal status are fairly restrictive
 Generally, someone must be sponsored by a close relative who
is already a citizen or resident or by an employer
 Even if a student has a close relative to sponsor them, they
still will need to wait several years to reach their turn in line to
apply
 Undocumented students are not considered “foreign
students” and student visas are not available. If an
undocumented student travels to their native country to apply
for a visa, they may end up confined outside the U.S.

6. Undocumented Student Updates
DREAM Act
The DREAM Act is a conditional bill that would allow for
undocumented students to become permanent U.S. residents . It
was most recently voted down in May 2011.
Illinois DREAM Act
Signed in August 2011, the IL DREAM Act is a privately funded
account to hold donations for grants and scholarships for
undocumented students. The commission is finalizing an
application process and should be available to students of the class
of 2013. Find more information at www.isac.org

7. Undocumented Student Updates
Obama Executive Order
In June 2012, President Obama issued and executive order to allow
DREAMers a chance at the American dream, even if it is temporary.
He halted the deportation of at least 800,000 undocumented
immigrants who were brought here as children.
Students need to provide documentation that they were in the U.S.
before the age of 16. Find more information at www.uscis.gov.
In-State Tuition Laws (11 states)
Texas (2001) Oklahoma (2003) New Mexico (2005)
California (2001) Kansas (2004) Nebraska (2006)
New York (2002) Washington (2004) Wisconsin (2009)
Utah (2002) Illinois (2004)

8. Counseling
Undocumented Student Characteristics
 Will typically not share their situation without having a
sense of trust first
 May not fully understand their situation or even know if
they are considered undocumented or illegal
 Can sometimes feel a sense of anger toward their parents
because of their decision
 Can sometimes feel a sense of anger toward their peers who
are U.S. citizens because they feel they take their citizenship
for granted
 Can display signs of depression, asocial, or even anti-social
behavior because they feel helpless with their situation

9. Advising
The counselor should
 Build trust with students you suspect are
undocumented before approaching the situation
 Allow the student to express their opinions and
frustrations without placing personal judgment
 Encourage the student to visit your office as often as
possible
 Connect the student(s) with support networks (e.g.,
churches, organizations, and advocates of their cause)
 Contact college representatives to advocate for as
much financial assistance that is possible

10. Advising
The counselor should
 Encourage the student to stay in school to maintain eligibility
for In-State tuition benefits and the DREAM Act
 Explain that a U.S. education is worth a lot of weight in other
countries, which may open opportunities in their native
country
 Communicate that a community college may be their best
option
 Explain that they cannot be employed legally after college
graduation in their field of study
 Communicate to the student that they may want to consider
working with an immigration lawyer

11. In Memory of
Brisenia Flores

12. Resources
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles www.chirla.org
College Board www.collegeboard.org
IACAC www.iacac.org (College Advising for Undocumented Students)
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights www.icirr.org
Illinois is Home Campaign www.illinoishome.org
League of United Latin American Citizens www.lulac.org
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund www.maldef.org
Masuda Funai www.masudafunai.com
National Immigration Law Center www.nilc.org
National Association of College Admission Counseling www.nacacnet.org
Pew Hispanic Center www.pewhispanic.org
The Tomás Rivera Policy Institute www.trpi.org

13. Questions