Welcome to San Joaquin Delta College!

Dreamer Success Center LogoOur mission is the right for everyone to be able to pursue higher education without fear of one's immigration status. We acknowledge how the path for undocumented students in pursuit of higher education requires more determination, strength, and resilience than should be expected, or is fair.  

At San Joaquin Delta College, we are committed to providing information, resources, a sense of community, and confidentially to all communities who are pursuing higher education. The Dreamers Success Center (DSC) focuses on supporting students who are Undocumented, of Immigrant Status, AB 540, and recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) by offering free legal and counseling services, among other available resources. 

¡Bienvenido a San Joaquin Delta College! Nuestra misión es el derecho de todos a poder cursar estudios superiores sin temor a su estatus migratorio. Reconocemos cómo el camino para los estudiantes indocumentados en busca de una educación superior requiere más determinación, fuerza y resiliencia de lo que se debería esperar, o de lo que es justo.   

En San Joaquin Delta College, estamos comprometidos a proporcionar información, recursos, un sentido de comunidad y confidencialidad a todas las comunidades que están cursando una educación superior. El Centro de Éxito de los Dreamers (DSC, por sus siglas en inglés) se enfoca en apoyar a los estudiantes indocumentados, con estatus de inmigrante, AB 540 y beneficiarios de Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia (DACA, por sus siglas en inglés) ofreciendo servicios legales y de asesoramiento gratuitos, entre otros recursos disponibles.

Get Started at Delta

Follow these steps to apply to Delta College as an undocumented student.

Apply to Delta

Information for Undocumented Students
Who are Undocumented Students?

By definition, an undocumented student is a foreign national who:

  1. entered the United States without inspection or with fraudulent documents; or
  2. entered legally as a nonimmigrant but then violated the terms of his or her status and remained in the United States without authorization (as defined by the National Immigration Law Center).

In contrast, a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) is defined as a person who was granted the right to live permanently in the United States. An LPR is a “green card” holder that is allowed to legally work and live in the United States.

For more info about Undocumented Students, visit: Overview of Undocumented Students: Immigrants Rising

 

What is AB540?

AB 540 exempts certain students from paying nonresident tuition (higher than resident tuition) and allows them to apply for different types of California Dream Act financial aid.

Students must have:

  1. Satisfaction of either of the following:
    1. High School attendance in California for three or more years.
    2. Attainment of credits earned in California from a California high school equivalent to three or more years of full-time high school coursework and a total of three or more years of attendance in California elementary schools, California secondary schools, or a combination of those schools.
  2. Graduated or will graduate from a California high school or obtained a Certificate or General Education Development (GED), High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), or test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC).
  3. Will register or enroll in an accredited and qualifying California college or university.
  4. If applicable, complete(d) an affidavit to legalize immigration status as soon as you are eligible.
  5. Do not hold a valid non-immigrant visa ( F, J, H, L, A, B, C, D, E, etc. )**

If you meet the requirements above, you should complete the CA Dream Act Application for financial aid. ( A certified GPA is also necessary for Cal Grant consideration.) Your college is responsible for verifying your AB 540 eligibility. Check with your Admissions Office early in the summer before the Fall Term starts.

**If you have Temporary Protected Status or hold a U Visa you may be eligible for the California Dream Act. AB 1899 allows U and T visa holders to also apply for state financial aid. (T visa holders should file a FAFSA, U visa holders should file a CA Dream Act Application)

What Financial Aid Can A Dreamer Apply For?
  • Cal Grant, Chafee Grant, Middle-Class Scholarship
  • UC Grants, State University Grants
  • California College Promise Grant (Formerly BOG Fee Waiver)
  • EOP/EOPS - Some University scholarships
  • Some private scholarships administered by campuses

Application deadline for all Dreamer Cal Grants and most of the other aid listed above is March 2.

Dreamer Cal Grants include:

  • High School Entitlement Cal Grant A & B
  • CCC Transfer Entitlement Cal Grant A & B
  • Cal Grant C

Dreamers are not eligible to receive Competitive Cal Grants.

A Dreamer Cal Grant application

A Dreamer Cal Grant application = CA Dream Act Application + Non-SSN GPA

Financial Aid will submit GPA electronically for eligible students.

You must meet the application deadline and all applicable eligibility requirements to qualify for any financial aid listed above.

For other financial aid and resources for Dreamers visit: www.maldef.org/about.

What is DACA?

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a federal process that defers removal action of an individual by USCIS for a specified number of years.

  • It is not the same as financial aid
  • It does not grant lawful immigration status
  • It does allow individuals to apply for an SSN and work authorization

CA Dreamers should still file a CA Dream Act Application instead of a FAFSA and submit a Non-SSN GPA. If you or your school submits your certified GPA using your DACA SSN, make sure you include that DACA SSN on question #8 of your CA Dream Act Application.

For more info about DACA visit:

Know Your Rights
Red Cards/Tarjetas Rojas

While the Dreamers Success Center provides printed red cards, we would like to provide the ILRC’s Red Cards link as an additional resource.

El Dreamers Success Center proporciona tarjetas rojas, pero nos gustaría proporcionar el enlace de Tarjetas Rojas de ILRC como un recurso adicional.

ILRC - Red Cards

Preparedness Plans/Planes de Preparacion

Every individual and/or family should have a Family Preparedness Plan in the case of an emergency, regardless of one's immigration status. Please use any of the following resources to help with creating a plan and further understanding your rights. Any additional questions or concerns can be referred to the Dreamers Success Center.

Cada individuo y/o familia debe tener un Plan de Preparación Familiar en caso de una emergencia, independientemente de su estatus migratorio. Utilice cualquiera de los siguientes recursos para ayudar a crear un plan y comprender mejor sus derechos. Cualquier pregunta o inquietud adicional puede ser referida al Dreamers Success Center.

IRLC - Step by Step Family Preparedness Plan

We Have Rights - Create an Emergency Plan

Immigrant Defense Project - Emergency Preparedness

Frequently Asked Questions/Preguntas Frecuentes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding District Police Interaction with Undocumented Persons.

Preguntas Frecuentes sobre la Interacción de la Policía del Distrito con Personas Indocumentadas.

FAQs Regarding District Police Interaction with Undocumented Persons PDF

SJDC District Police Department - Frequently Asked Questions

Additional Resources/Recursos Adicionales

PDFs

Know Your Rights - A Guide to Your Rights When Interacting with Law Enforcement

Know Your Rights - No Matter Who Is President

Websites/Sitios

Catholic Charities - Immigration Legal Services