At North Hennepin Community College, we are committed to helping our student's succeed. However, we know many of our students experience challenges outside of the classroom, which is why we want to provide you with the following resources:
- Creating a family emergency communication plan, including a communication plan template
- Immigration Help
- Know your rights
- See if you can renew your DACA
- United We Dream
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
NHCC is committed to students and families experiencing difficulties due to current events surrounding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). As members of the community, our goal is to support one another, create and sustain awareness regarding issues that affect our students, and connect students with supportive resources. We remain supportive of federal policies like DACA, that provide opportunities for furthering education and gaining employment. NHCC remains a welcoming and inclusive campus, that provides opportunities for growth and prosperity for students, faculty, and staff.
Here are some resources that may help you become a student at NHCC and successfully complete your academic goals in college!
- Frequently asked questions: Rescission of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
- Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota - Helpline
- Beyond deferred action: long-term immigration remedies every undocumented young person should know
- Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC): Empowering undocumented young people to achieve educational and career goals
3 Major Takeaways for DACA Recipients
- Renew now, do not wait to see what happens in August. There is a strong push from immigration advocates for all DACA recipients to renew (including those with expired work permits as they are still eligible)
- If your DACA is expiring within one year, renew now. Advocates and lawyers have noted that USCIS is not rejecting applications whose renewals are far in the future, including more than 180 days in advance. Either they are processing them or holding them, but at least not rejecting them. The advice among advocates is to submit the applications – see resources and information you can share with students below.
- The risks of being found in unlawful presence are higher than the risks to renew. While there is concern about risks if one renews, advocates advise that there is a lot more risk for a Dreamer to be in an unlawful presence status, including more immediate risk for deportation.
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota enhances opportunities for immigrants and refugees through legal representation for low-income individuals, and through education and advocacy with diverse communities. Services include:
- Legal services
- Education and training
- Advocacy issues
- DACA Deferred Action
Minnesota Dream Act
The MN Dream Act (also known as The Prosperity Act) was introduced by Senator Sandra Pappas (SF723) and Representative Carlos Mariani (HF875) and was included in the omnibus Higher Education bill passed by the 2013 Minnesota Legislature and signed into law by Governor Dayton on May 23, 2013.
The MN Dream Act will provide certain benefits to undocumented students who meet the following criteria:
- Attended a Minnesota high school for at least 3 years; and
- Graduated from a Minnesota high school or earned a GED in Minnesota; and
- Registered with the U.S. Selective Service (applies only to males 18 to 25 years old); and
- Provide documentation to show they have applied for lawful immigration status but only if a federal process exists for a student to do so (does not include applying for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). There is currently not a federal process in place, so this documentation is not currently required.
Students who meet the criteria in the MN Dream Act will be eligible for the following benefits:
- In-state resident tuition rates at public colleges and universities.
- State financial aid available to students who meet state residency requirements.
- Privately funded financial aid through public colleges and universities.
Navigate MN
NAVIGATE is a leadership development program for immigrant young adults in Minnesota facing financial, social, and legal barriers to achieve their dreams through changing unjust systems. Through NAVIGATE, these young adults help their communities and themselves by gaining access to college, getting jobs, and obtaining legal status. Services include:
- Presentations about college access in Minnesota
- Community service internships that develop leadership and professional skills
Latino Resources
Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servico (CLUES)
CLUES is a linguistically and culturally relevant resource and service organization founded in 1981 by Latinos for Latinos with programs and services that connect families to resources, skills, institutions, and systems to create an environment for people to be engaged and empowered, including those in:
- Health & Family Wellbeing
- Economic Vitality
- Education
La Oportunidad, Inc.
La Oportunidad is a recognized leader for providing effective educational and supportive programs that enable Latino individuals and families to achieve positive educational and social outcomes. The organization’s mission is to champion the development of Latino individuals and families to create a strong, peaceful community. They achieve its mission by providing bilingual and culturally-relevant, research-base and family-centered, programs for Latino children, youth, adults, and families, including:
- El Camino (The Path) Children’s Program
- Latino Youth Program
- Padres (Parents) Program
- Latinos Ending Abuse Program (LEAP)