For the past few months we have been working on a guide to help undocumented students in Michigan apply and enroll in college. Applying for college is a very difficult challenge for students without legal status, especially because there is no set guidelines that tell students which schools to consider, what are their options, or even what to fill in for the residency and citizenship checkmarks.
This is the first of its kind in Michigan, providing an easy to understand, step by step directions on what to do if you’re an undocumented student looking to apply to college. The guide starts with figuring out what high school to choose, the best classes to take, and how to start saving and preparing for college. It focuses on the major aspects of applying to school from the perspective of an undocumented student.
We not only want this guide to give practical advice, we also hopes it inspires undocumented students to pursue higher education. Many undocumented students feel like there is no hope after high school. This guide serves as a resource to help the many Michigan undocumented students access to higher education.
You can download the guide for free by signing the form below
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We also have booklets available for a small donation to cover printing and shipping cost.
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For Immediate Release:
Media Contact: Jose Franco
313-721-5056 media@1michigan.org
Local Student Testifies in First Ever Senate DREAM Act Hearing
Student recently was granted deferred action and DREAM Act is only hope to fix status
Washington D.C, 6/28/2011- Ola Kaso, a recent graduate of Cousino High School in Warren, MI will testify in the first ever Senate committee hearing on the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act would allow undocumented students a path to citizenship through 2 years of college or military service. Students would have to have arrived before the age of 16, been here for 5 consistent years, have no criminal history, and have a high school degree or GED.
Ola Kaso recently faced deportation back to Albania. She came to the United States when she was four years old. Due to negligence of Ola and her mother’s attorney, Ola and her mother both faced deportation to a country they no longer considered home.
With the support of One Michigan, a youth and immigrant led organization advocating for immigrant rights, Ola was granted deferred status. During this campaign to stop her deportation, One Michigan with the help of the Kaso family was able to collect over 10,000 signatures.
Ola was granted deferred action which means her deportation is delayed for another year. The only true hope for Ola is the passage of the DREAM Act “Every time we see a student like Ola with a 4.4 grade point average, we are reminded of the need for the DREAM Act. That is why this hearing is so important. The DREAM Act needs to be a legislative priority as we continue to see students like Ola facing deportation.” states Dayanna Rebolledo, lead organizer of One Michigan.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 28 2011 10:00 AM CSPAN
WHERE: Senate Immigration Sub-Committee Washington D.C
WHAT: Senate Hearing on DREAM Act
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One Michigan is an organization led by immigrant youth and supported by strong allies. We work towards providing resources to immigrant communities through organizing, education, and empowerment. We answer to and are driven by the needs of our community.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Jose Franco, 313-721-5056
media@1michigan.org
DREAM Act Introduced, Local Organization Reacts
Today the Development, Relief, Education of Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) was introduced in the Senate by Senator Durbin. The DREAM Act would allow undocumented students a path to citizenship if they complete 2 years of college or military service. Students would have to have arrived before the age of 16, been here for 5 consistent years, have no criminal history, and have a high school degree or GED.
The DREAM Act has been introduced for the past 5 legislative sessions. In December of 2010, it passed the House and fell only 5 votes short of passing in the senate. Locally, One Michigan led a campaign for the DREAM Act. One Michigan is a undocumented youth led organization advocating for immigrant rights. While advocating for the DREAM Act, One Michigan held rallies, marches, and phone banks. Detroit Immigrant youth empowered by national DREAM Act advocates came out of the shadows and declared themselves, “Undocumented and Unafraid.”
“We are excited that the DREAM Act was introduced but to put our complete faith in it would be to ignore the political reality. We are aware that, President Obama can use his executive power to provide immediate relief to Undocumented youth. If congress is really serious on taking on the issue we’ll be there to fully support it” states Jose Franco, lead organizer of One Michigan.
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