DACA/Undocumented/Mixed-Status Students
The Lealtad-Suzuki Center provides regular programming opportunities for students, faculty, and staff who are undocumented immigrants, DACA recipients, refugees, asylum seekers, and/or first and second-generation immigrants.
Previous Programming
- Welcome Lunches for students, faculty, and staff
- Workshop on Immigration and Mental Health
- Workshop with the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
DACA, Undocumented, and Mixed-Status Student Support
Students who have DACA status, are undocumented, and/or have mixed-status families, are able to attend Macalester College. Students and their loved ones immigrate and migrate for a variety of reasons- whether it involves safety, work, education, and/or community care. Students may identify as permanent residents, refugees, asylees, temporary residents or visitors, or other statuses within the United States.
What is DACA, Undocumented, and Mixed-Status families?
Undocumented or non-citizen: a student is considered undocumented if they do not currently have US citizenship or permanent residency and do not intend to/are eligible to apply for a F-1, G-1, or A-1 visa.
Mixed-Status Family: a family whose members include people with different citizenship or immigration statuses. One example of a mixed-status family is one in which the parents are undocumented and the children are U.S.-born citizens.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): federal program offers employment authorization (work permit) and protection from deportation for certain people who qualify. The program is intended for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States by their parents when they were children.
Eligibility:
- are under 31 years of age as of June 15, 2012;
- came to the U.S. while under the age of 16;
- have continuously resided in the U.S. from June 15, 2007 to the present;
- entered the U.S. without inspection before June 15, 2012, or individuals whose lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012;
- were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making the request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
- are currently in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a GED, or have been honorably discharged from the Coast Guard or armed forces;
- have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor, or more than three misdemeanors and do not pose a threat to national security or public safety.
Macalester College Contacts
The Lealtad-Suzuki Center for Social Justice provides resources, events, and trainings regarding DACA/Undocumented/Mixed Status support for students, staff, and faculty. The department is located on the first floor of Kagin.
Questions can be directed to Director Hana Dinku at [email protected]. Please do not provide confidential information via email, but do request a meeting for continued support.
Minnesota-focused Resources
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota – Comprehensive immigration services, education, and advocacy for low-income immigrants and refugees.
MN Office of Higher Education – For MN Dream Act, SELF Loan and other state funds/higher ed questions.
COPAL MN– a non-profit organization aiming to unite the Latinx community in active grassroots communal democracy that builds racial, gender, social and economic justice across community lines
Navigate MN or Unidos MN– The largest network of undocumented immigrant young adults in Minnesota; provides education, advocacy, and fellowship opportunities for the immigrant community in Minnesota.
MN8– a non-profit organization focusing on supporting Southeast Asian families and community members regarding deportation, immigration, and other community resources.
CAAL MN– a non-profit organization supporting Asian Americans, immigrants, and mixed status families through immigration and advocacy resources.
Mexican Consulate in St. Paul – Consular services, referrals, ventanillas de salud y educación, and advocacy for Mexican citizens in the state of Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Northern Wisconsin.
Consulate General of Ecuador in Minnesota – Consular services and advocacy for Ecuadorian citizens in Minnesota.
National Resources
Educators for Fair Consideration -Programs and services that holistically address the needs of undocumented young people through direct support, leadership development, community outreach, and advocacy.
United We Dream – The largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation with a focus on empowering undocumented youth organizing and advocating for the dignity and fair treatment of immigrant youth and families, regardless of immigration status.
National Immigration Law Center – One of the leading organizations in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of immigrants with low income.
Immigrants Rising – California based organization focusing on wrap around collegiate and mental health support for undocumented students.
Legal Resources
Immigrant Law Center Minnesota
Main Office
(651) 641-1011
450 North Syndicate Street, Suite 200
St. Paul, MN 55104
Accessible from Macalester’s campus by public transit: Bus lines 16 and 21, and light rail (Green Line).
Monday – Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
Client line at 1-800-223-1368 during intake hours to schedule an appointment to speak to a legal staff member. We cannot give walk-in or drop-in appointments.
Intake Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 12 pm – 1:30 pm
Thursday: 6 pm – 7:30 pm
For Clients in Detention:
ILCM operates a detainee assistance phone line on Monday and Wednesday from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Individuals being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as their families, can call 651-641-1011 within those hours to obtain general information about court proceedings, the Minnesota Detention Project, and the services the project provides at a first court hearing. Volunteers operating the phone line are not attorneys, and will not be able to provide any legal advice.
National Immigration Law Center
(202) 216-0261
1121 14th Street, NW, Ste. 200
Washington, DC 20005
Consulado de México en Saint Paul
Foreign Consulate
(651) 771-5494
797 7th St East
St Paul, MN 55106
Pro Bono (for free) Attorneys/Services
Volunteers Lawyers Network
Immigration, Bankruptcy, Employment and Family
(612) 752-6655
600 Nicollet Mall, Ste 390A
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights Refugee and Asylum
Immigration and Civil Rights
(612) 341-3302
310 4th Ave S, Ste 1000
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services Volunteer Attorney Program
Immigration, Bankruptcy, Employment, and Family
(651) 228-9823
55 East 5th Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
Mid-MN Legal Aid
Serves Minnesotans in the 20 counties of central Minnesota, including Hennepin, from offices in Minneapolis, St. Cloud and Willmar.
Any request or question regarding legal assistance is handled by our intake process. Please contact your local office, apply online or call our Minneapolis line at (612) 334-5970.