Eighteen representatives from California State University campuses across the state, as well as two members of the Chancellor’s Office, met July 26 and 27 at CSUMB for the annual Dream Centers and Immigration Legal Providers Team meeting. It was the first in-person meeting since the onset of the COVID pandemic. Also on hand were members of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Immigration Legal Defense, and a Southern California representative of Jewish Family Services. 

Virtually every CSU campus has a center of some type to assist both Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program and undocumented students with financial and educational support.

Guillermo Metelin Bock, Undocu-Success coordinator for CSUMB, said the gathering was a chance to connect with colleagues from other CSU campuses and improve services for students. 

“The main topic was creating opportunities for undocumented students [who are] without working authorization,” Bock said. “We have a lot of students who graduate but don’t have authorization to work. We try to ensure that they succeed, but how do we support them after graduation?”

Part of the seminar included a presentation on a training service that will be implemented at CSUMB this year. The training course was developed to increase awareness and understanding of undocumented and mixed-status student issues. How to use the group to help advocate for new legislation was also discussed. 

“If you are an ally, you can be an advocate,” Bock said. “These students are contributing to our communities. California has invested so much in these students, and we can’t afford to lose them.”

Holding the event at CSUMB, he said, “helps bring a spotlight to Monterey Bay and show the work we’re doing.”