Welcome to the AIM to Dream Center
The mission of the Advance , Innovate, and Maintain (AIM) to Dream Center is to help undocumented students, students from mixed-status families overcome the unique challenges that get in the way of achieving academic, personal and professional excellence. The Center is committed in advocating for undocumented students who want to pursue the dream of higher education.
AIM to Dream Center
Allan Hancock College’s AIM to Dream Center provides an inclusive and embracing space for undocumented students, mixed-status families, and allies. The Dream Center provides holistic support to help students meet their academic and personal goals! Services include FREE immigration legal services, technology support, undocumented-centered events, free Rosetta Stone language learning software, AIM scholarships, and workshops.
Hours
Santa Maria (Building K, room 11c)
Monday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Lompoc Valley Center (2-111)
Please contact our office for LVC dates
If you need assistance, please email aimstudent@hancockcollege.edu, gemma.garcia@hancockcollege.edu, or call us at 805-922-6966 Ext. 3177
The AIM to Dream Center is open for in-person services as well as remote (phone/zoom). If you are on campus, we encourage you to come in and utilize our services and/or receive help! We are located in the Business Education Building, room K11c
Meet Our Staff
Gemma Garcia
Amalia Jimenez Chavez
Learning Facilitators and Interns
Andrea Salazar
Mariana Trujillo
Omar Gomez
Rubi Basurto
Virginia Martinez
DREAM Club
The Dream Club is a staff and student-led club supporting and advocating for undocumented students. We advocate for immigrants' rights and support students in achieving higher education access. We also raise funds to provide scholarships and undocumented-centered events. We welcome all undocumented students from mixed-status families and allies to join us. New members are always welcome! You belong here!
Nuestras juntas son en Español e Ingles.
Add us in Instagram! @ahc_dreamclub
End of the year celebration and last Dream Club meeting for fall 2023
- Friday, Dec.8, 2023. from 2pm to 4pm. Room A103.
To get more information about the Dream Club, please contact the AIM to Dream Center at 805-922-6966 Ext.3177 or email aimstudent@hancockcollege.edu
Workshops
See 2023 AHC Undocu Student Action Week!
FREE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
Allan Hancock College and UFW Foundation are partnering to provide free immigration legal services to All students, faculty, and staff.
Students enrolled, in any capacity, at California Community Colleges can now access FREE immigration legal support from trusted direct service organizations.
AHC Financial Aid Scholarship List
2023-2024 MALDEF Scholarship
Immigrants Rising Scholarships and Fellowships
Immigrants Rising #UndocuHustle
CA Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program
My Undocumented Life - College Scholarships
Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success
CCC-USS strives to support the undocumented community of the Central Coast. We serve Northern Santa Barbara county and San Luis Obispo county students, educators, family members, and allies. Read about our work here.
CA Community College Undocumented Resources
CA Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program
The California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program (DSIG) encourages California Dream Act Applicant (CADAA) Students with a Cal Grant A award that met Cal Grant B eligibility or a Cal Grant B award to perform community or volunteer service. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will award up to $4,500 per academic year (up to $2,250 per semester) to 1,667 eligible students. The grant will be available to the student for up to 8 semesters while they have an active Cal Grant A or B award. Students must also meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and complete any necessary verification for their Cal Grant award.
For more information visit CSAC website or contact the AIM to Dream Center Office
National Immigration Legal Services Directory
Use the link below to search for immigration legal services providers by state, county, or detention facility. Only nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services are included in this directory.
#FindYourAlly - Higher Education Legal Services Project
What is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
DACA is an administrative relief that protects eligible immigrants who came to the United States when they were children from deportation. DACA gives undocumented immigrants: 1) protection from deportation, and 2) a work permit. The program requires that the DACA status and work permit be renewed every two years.
On August 30, 2022 the Biden Administration issued a new rule on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that will incorporate DACA into the Federal Regulations. Since its announcement, there have been several questions around who can access DACA now and what it means for all those first-time applicants who are waiting to obtain DACA. Below are a few key points for you to keep in mind as you navigate access to DACA now and when the rule goes into effect on October 31, 2022.
DACA Court Hearing June 2023
Case Background
The case was sent back to the lower court in October 2022 after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling that DACA is unlawful. The Fifth Circuit asked that Judge Hanen review the case considering the new DACA regulation formalized by the Biden Administration.
Potential Next Steps
Given Judge Hanen’s prior decisions in this case, it is likely he will again declare that DACA is unlawful. If he rules against DACA, the case will likely return to the Fifth Circuit.
We don’t know when Judge Hanen will issue his decision—it could be days or months from now.
What this means for DACA recipients
It’s important to remember that Judge Hanen cannot take away DACA renewals for current DACA recipients —only the appeals court, or later, the Supreme Court, can change that. While we wait for a decision remember that:
- DACA renewals are still open. This could change, which is why we urge you to renew as soon as possible while the courts are still allowing these applications to be processed.
- First-time DACA applications continue to stay in limbo and will not be processed.
- Advance parole for current DACA recipients is still available.
We understand that this rollercoaster of court cases is exhausting and unfair. We stand with you, and we will never stop fighting to protect our communities. Our communities deserve to be safe; we deserve to be free from the extreme stress and fear that comes with the threat of deportation and to continue planning our lives with certainty and stability.
Timeline: Texas v. United States
July 16, 2021: Judge Hanen from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled that DACA is unlawful. But the court allowed people with DACA to continue to renew. The court blocked USCIS from processing first-time DACA requests.
September 2021: The Biden administration appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
July 6, 2022: Oral argument took place at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for the case.
August 30, 2022: The Biden Administration published their final rule on DACA.
October 5, 2022: The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals published a decision on the case, affirming that DACA is illegal and sending the case back down to the Texas District Court.
October 31, 2022: The Biden Administration’s DACA regulations went into effect.
June 1, 2023: Judge Hanen from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas heard oral arguments again for the DACA case, this time focusing on the Biden Administration’s DACA rule.
What’s Next?
Now we wait for a decision from Judge Hanen from the Texas District Court. This could take weeks or months. We likely expect the decision to be negative based on how the judge has ruled before.
After that, it is likely that the case will go up to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and assuming another negative decision there could make its way to the Supreme Court, most likely for a decision in 2025.
First-time applicants
First-time applications are currently accepted by USCIS, but they are still prohibited
from processing the application under the Texas court order. As of June 1, 2023, we
do not know if this will change.
See first-time DACA FAQs below
Current DACA recipients
Renewals are allowed while the case is being decided in the U.S. District Court by
Judge Hanen. Remember that he cannot take away DACA for current DACA recipients —only
the appeals court, or later, the Supreme Court, can change that.
- My DACA expired less than a year ago. If your DACA expired under a year ago, USCIS will still process your renewal request as a renewal.
- My DACA expired over a year ago. If your DACA expired over a year ago, while you may still file for DACA, it will be considered an initial– or first-time– DACA request, and thus while USCIS will accept it, it may not process it under the Texas court order.
Advance parole – permission to travel abroad
AP continues open while renewals are still open.
DACA recipients that have a valid reason for traveling abroad can still request advance parole, or permission to travel abroad. A valid reason to travel abroad for a DACA recipient is an employment-based reason, a humanitarian reason, or an educational reason. Vacation is not a valid reason under the DACA rules. Find out more about advance parole on our guide and always consult with an immigration lawyer before traveling outside the United States.
What can we do now?
It’s important that Congress pass permanent solutions for people with or without DACA,
TPS holders, farmworkers, essential workers, and our family members.
Source: Informed Immigrant
.
