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2025 Know Your Rights / Deportation Safety Plan


You're welcome here.

Governors State University values the diversity and lived experiences of our students and is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable environment where all students can thrive. GovState admits students regardless of undocumented status; admissions decisions are based solely on academic performance and examination scores.

Beginning in the 2022–2023 academic year, Illinois requires all public universities to designate an Undocumented Student Liaison to support undocumented and mixed-status students. At GovState, Emmanuel Lopez serves in this role, helping students navigate resources, streamline access to financial aid, and connect with academic support, ensuring they are well-positioned to succeed and complete their degrees.


Undocumented Student Liaison/Allies

Emmanuel Lopez
Email: elopez6@govst.edu
Office: C-2340

Karina Hernandez Cazarez
Email: kherndanzecazarez@govst.edu
Office: C-2340

Learn more about Undocumented Student Liaisons across Illinois

Getting Started: Your Support Checklist

1. Contact Emmanuel or Karina so we can help you understand the resources at GovState

Whether you are a prospective student or if you are already taking classes at GovState, meeting with us will allow you to get personalized support. We understand your unique experiences and want to take the pressure off your shoulders so that you can make the best decision with the right information. We can also help you understand how to utilize Scholarship Universe to apply for an internal scholarship on a semester basis.

Learn more about scholarships

2. Check if you are eligible for the Alternative Application (RISE ACT)

The Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act allows eligible undocumented students to apply for all forms of state financial aid. The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) provides a way for these qualified students to apply for Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants, the state's largest need-based grant program for low-income college students.

Learn more about the RISE Act and Alternative Application

3. Know your Rights: Illinois NEW comprehensive information hub for immigrants

The Illinois Immigration Information Hub is a partnership between leading immigrant rights organizations, legal aid providers, and state and local government partners in Illinois. United in our commitment to empower immigrant communities with accurate and comprehensive information, we developed a centralized place for individuals and families to access reliable resources, legal guidance, and community support.

Learn more about Illinois Immigration

Building a More Supportive Campus

Governors State University is committed to supporting all students, regardless of immigration status. The Undocumented Student Ally Training (USAT) is designed to educate and empower faculty, staff, and administrators to better support undocumented and mixed-status students on their academic journey.

Launched through the office of Institutional Engagement and Excellence (IEE) mini-grant, USAT builds awareness around the challenges undocumented students face and provides practical tools to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment across campus.

These trainings are free and offered multiple times a semester. To learn more about the next training, please email Emmanuel Lopez at elopez6@govst.edu.


Frequently Asked Questions Related to Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Officers on Governors State University Property

Can Governors State University prevent federal immigration enforcement officers from coming on campus or entering campus buildings and other university properties?

It depends. As a public institution, a large portion of the Governors State University campus is open to the public. Federal immigration enforcement officers may enter these areas open to the public without a warrant.

However, public access is limited in certain areas of the Governors State University campus and property. Included in this category of limited access spaces are campus buildings in which access is restricted by University-issued ID card (i-card), locked doors or monitored entryways, including University residence halls. Limited access spaces also include some buildings and spaces that may be unlocked during normal operations, including administrative or faculty offices, classrooms, and research laboratories.

It is important to note that ICE or federal officials from the Department of Homeland Security may be on campus for reasons unrelated to immigration enforcement actions. As part of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) through the Department of State, in which many International students participate, the University is required to report certain information about F-1 or J-1 visa status students to ICE, as it is an agreed upon part of SEVIS reporting. This reporting is routine, and the University is required to comply with on-site visits to review records when requested.

In what situations can federal immigration enforcement officers enter limited access, nonpublic areas, including residence halls?

Federal immigration enforcement officers are required to have a criminal arrest or search warrant to lawfully enter nonpublic areas without consent. Most often, immigration officers who might come to campus would be acting on civil, not criminal, authority, and generally carry administrative warrants. Administrative warrants are not signed by a judge and do not authorize officers to enter limited access areas without consent.

What should employees do if a federal immigration enforcement officer asks for access to a residence hall or other limited access area?

University employees should ask the immigration officer for their name, identification number and agency affiliation. Ask the officer to wait and immediately call the Governors State University Department of Public Safety (DPS) at (708) 534-4900 ext. 4900 and notify them of the immigration officer’s presence.

Unauthorized employees should not accept delivery of legal documents, such as search warrants or subpoenas. Employees not authorized to receive such documents should call the DPS to receive them. University police will forward such documents to University General Counsel (legal counsel) immediately for advice.

Will the Governors State University Police Department work with federal immigration officers to apprehend and remove individuals from campus?

No. The DPS will not ask anyone about their immigration status and does not arrest anyone solely on the basis of their immigration status. DPS also does not act on detainers issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Will County Jail does not hold individuals affected by ICE detainers.

The only time officers are required to take immigration enforcement action is when a judge has signed a criminal warrant. DPS would not typically be involved in immigration enforcement under normal circumstances.

Additionally, Illinois state law prohibits state and local law enforcement from acting on federal detainers or stopping, arresting, or searching an individual based solely on immigration status (5 ILCS 805/-Illinois TRUST Act). As of June 21, 2019, the Keep Illinois Families Together Act (5 ILCS 835) officially prohibits state and local law enforcement in the state of Illinois from entering into 287(g) agreements with ICE.

Can a student refuse to allow a federal immigration enforcement officer to enter a residence hall room or choose not to provide information voluntarily?

Yes. A residential hall room is considered a limited access area and cannot be legally accessed by immigration enforcement officers without a valid criminal warrant or the voluntary consent of the occupant. A student need not allow entry to any law enforcement officer who is not in possession of a criminal warrant, regardless of what that officer might say.

Individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their homes, both on and off campus. A warrant of removal/deportation (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) warrant) is a civil or administrative warrant and is not signed by a judge. Administrative warrants do not authorize officers to enter a home without consent. If an immigration officer has a civil or administrative warrant, undocumented students have a personal choice whether to grant consent to enter their residence. However, if a law enforcement officer has a criminal search or arrest warrant signed by a judge, the officer does not need consent to enter the apartment or arrest an individual named in the warrant.

In all cases, individuals have the right to the remain silent under the 5th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and do not need to answer questions, or sign or provide any documents voluntarily.

What should employees do if a federal officer asks for or presents a subpoena for personally identifiable private information or records about a student or employee?

Unauthorized employees should not accept delivery of legal documents, such as search warrants or subpoenas. Employees not authorized to receive such documents should call DPS to receive them. University police will forward such documents to University General Counsel (legal counsel) immediately for advice.

If DPS receives a request from a federal officer for any information about a student, they should contact the Office of General Counsel (legal counsel) for assistance. Personally identifiable educational and university health records are protected by a variety of privacy laws including the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act (HIPAA). As a university employee, you are required to maintain the confidentiality of these records.

If you receive a request for personally identifiable information or records, or if a federal immigration enforcement officer gives you a warrant or subpoena seeking such records, before providing any information, you should confirm that you are authorized to provide access to the specified records or information. Ask the officer for their name, identification number and agency affiliation; ask for a copy of any warrant or subpoena presented, inform the officer that you are not obstructing their process but need to contact the Office of University Counsel for assistance, and call the Governors State University Department of Public Safety (708) 534-4900 for instructions on responding to the request.


Resources

Undocumented Student Criteria

Students who are not U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, or do not possess a green card, visa or other legal documentation, can apply for admission to Governors State University and pay in-state tuition. Illinois General Assembly Public Act 093-0738 provides that undocumented students be classified as Illinois residents for tuition purposes if they meet all of the following conditions:

  • • Student resided with her/his parent or guardian while attending a public or private Illinois high school.
  • • Student graduated from an Illinois high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Illinois.
  • • Student attended an Illinois high school for at least 3 years as of the date of graduation from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Illinois.
  • • Student provides the university with an affidavit stating her/his intent to file an application to become a permanent resident of the U.S.

Complete the GovState Affidavit linked here. Have the Affidavit signed and notarized by a notary public and return it to the Registrar's office.

Information on tuition and fees can be found using the tuition estimator linked here. If you are accepted to GovState, you must contact the Office of the Registrar to confirm your in-state residency for tuition purposes otherwise you will be charged out-of-state tuition. If you have questions about residency, please contact the Registrar's Office:
 

Phone: 708.534.4500
Fax: 708.534.1640
Email: Regoffice@govst.edu
Mail:
Office of the Registrar
Governors State University
1 University Parkway, C-1300
University Park, IL 60484

Financial Resources

Undocumented students are not eligible to receive federal or state financial aid. However, undocumented students may qualify for other types of financial assistance such as private scholarships from communities and national organizations that do not require a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be on file.


Private Scholarships 
Private scholarships for undocumented students are highly competitive and limited.  We encourage students to contact individual scholarship committees/organization to ask if they are willing to accept an undocumented student's application if all other requirements are met. 


Illinois Dream Fund 
Illinois passed the Illinois Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM Act) which establishes a scholarship fund for qualified undocumented students funded entirely by private donations. In order to qualify for the Illinois DREAM fund scholarship, an applicant must:
Be incoming freshmen or current undergraduate or transfer student

  1. 1. Possess at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4-point scale 
  2. 2. Have resided with parent(s) or guardian(s) while attending high school in Illinois 
  3. 3. Have graduated from a high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma (GED) in Illinois; after attending an Illinois high school for at least three years. 

Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund  
MALDEF is a Latino legal civil rights organization promoting social change through advocacy, communications, community education and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights and political access. 


Alternative Application to apply for Illinois MAP Grants


Dennis De La Rosa Scholarship Fund


Golden Apple Scholarship


Immigrants Rising Scholarships and Fellowships


Private Illinois College and Universities (PICU)


TheDream.US


The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation


The Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling

Additional Resources

Dream Act
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors or DREAM Act has been proposed in federal and California state legislatures. The goal of the DREAM act has been to increase higher education opportunities for undocumented students. Students must meet the following criteria:

  • • Arrived in the U.S. before the age of 16
  • • Have lived in the U.S. for at least five consecutive years, 
  • • Graduated from a high school or obtained a GED,
  • • And demonstrated good moral character. 

Governor Pat Quinn (D) signed the Illinois DREAM act into state law on August 1, 2011.

What does the Illinois dream act do?

  1. 1. It allows anyone with an individual taxpayer identification number, including undocumented students, to participate in the State Treasurer's College Savings Pool and the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Plan. These programs allow families of DREAM youths to plan ahead and invest and save for their children's college education.
  2. 2. High School college counselors are required to be trained and prepared to know what college options are available for undocumented students and children of immigrants. This requirement will ensure that undocumented students will receive correct information about opportunities available to them after high school. Training will be incorporated into existing counselor training sessions.
  3. 3. It requires the Illinois Assistance Commission to establish an Illinois DREAM Fund Commission administered by volunteers of the state, who are appointed by Governor Quinn. The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission will establish scholarships for qualified undocumented students. The scholarships will be funded entirely by private donations and contributions. 

What doesn't the Illinois dream act do?

  1. 1. It does NOT offer legal permanent status.
  2. 2. It is NOT a path towards citizenship.
  3. 3. It does NOT allow students to legally work in their field upon graduation.

Who qualifies?

A student must:

  1. 1. Have resided with parents or guardians while attending high school in Illinois, 
  2. 2. Have attended a high school in Illinois for at least 3 years up to the time of graduation or receiving the equivalent of a high school diploma (such as GED),
  3. 3. Have at least one parent who immigrated to the United States. 

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
Created by memorandum on June 15, 2012 and implemented by the Department of Homeland Security, DACA directs the use of prosecutorial discretion towards qualifying individuals who illegally immigrated to the United States as children. Deferred action means to defer removal of these individuals from the United States. Qualifying individuals will be granted deferred action for two years, subject to renewal, and be eligible for work authorization. However, deferred action does not give the applicant lawful immigration status nor provide a path to citizenship.

Individuals may be eligible for DACA if:

  1. 1. They arrived in the United States before turning 16 years old; 
  2. 2. They were under 31 years old on June 15, 2012;
  3. 3. They were physically present on June 15, 2012 (the day this directive went into effect) and on the day that they submit their application to USCIS;
  4. 4. They have continuously resided in the United States from June 15, 2007 through the present;
  5. 5. They entered the United States without inspection before June 15, 2012 or their lawful immigration status expired before June 15, 2012;
  6. 6. They are currently in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a high school equivalency certificate (GED) or have been honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces or the Coast Guard; and 
  7. 7. They have not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor or three other misdemeanors and they do not pose a threat to national security or public safety. 

Temporary driver's license
On January 27, 2013, Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law legislation to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain temporary driver's licenses. Under the law undocumented immigrants who cannot obtain temporary driver's licenses may apply as long as they meet the following requirements:

  • • Have lived in Illinois for a year
  • • Apply at a designated facility
  • • Pass vision, written and road examinations
  • • Carry auto insurance
  • • Have proof of insurance
  • • Pay a fee

The temporary driver's license is valid for driving only and may not be used as identification. The license is valid for a period of three years.

Legal tips for undocumented non-citizen students

Time is of essence when a student has been detained by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) or arrested.

If you are stopped by the Police:

  • • Think carefully about your words, movement, body language, and emotions.
  • • Do not argue with the officer.
  • • Do not run. Do not touch the officer.
  • • Do not resist even if you believe that you are wrongfully stopped.
  • • Do not sign anything giving up your rights.
  • • Do not falsely claim U.S. citizenship.
  • • Do not carry false documents.
  • • Do not sign any documents without first speaking with a lawyer.
  • • Remember that once a conversation with a police officer is terminated, the officer must either arrest you or let you go.
  • • Ask for a lawyer immediately after you are arrested.
  • • Undocumented persons should remain silent or tell the ICE agent that they want to remain silent.

Assert your rights. If you do not demand your rights or if you sign papers waiving your rights, the DHS may deport you before you see a lawyer or an immigration judge.
Talk to a lawyer. If possible, carry with you the name and telephone number of an immigration attorney who will take your calls.

The immigration laws are complicated. There may be options for you that immigration officers will not explain to you. You do not have the right to a governmental appointed lawyer for an immigration proceeding, but if you have been arrested, immigration officials must show you a list of free or low-cost legal service providers.


Know Your Rights: If You Encounter ICE

Additional Resources on Campus

Community Resources

FAQ for Undocumented Students

Q: Do I have to be a citizen to be admitted to Governors State?
A: No, citizenship status is not a requirement for admission. All information you share with the university is confidential according to the Family Educational and Privacy Act (FERPA) guidelines.

Q: The Governors State University application asks for a Social Security number. What should I write?
A: You should leave that question blank. A student GovState ID number will still be generated with your application.

Q: Will I be reported to immigration if I attend Governors State University?
A: No, under the Family Educational and Privacy Act (FERPA) your privacy is protected.

Q: Can I apply for financial aid?
A: You are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid. In order to be eligible for FAFSA, a student must be a citizen, a legal permanent resident (green card holder) or have one of the following immigration statuses: Conditional Resident, Granted Asylum or Refugee, Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Conditional Entrant or Batter immigrant. You should look to private scholarships. Students who have been approved for DACA are still considered undocumented. It is important to remember that social security numbers and work authorization provided by DACA do not change the admissions process and do not make a student eligible for federal financial aid.

Q: Am I eligible for Governors State Scholarships?
A: Yes, but you must meet the scholarship criteria.

Q: If I am a transfer student, do I still need to submit my high school transcripts?
A: Yes. In order to satisfy the requirements of Public Act 93-0007, you must submit official high school transcripts.

Q: Are there certain majors that I should not consider?
A: There may be some majors that will require you to sit for a state exam and you will need to have a valid social security number. You should consult with the Major Program Advisor for requirements.

Q: I've been approved for DACA. Now that I have a work permit, can I work on campus?
A: Certain on-campus jobs are open to all students who are enrolled at least half-time and have eligibility to work in the United States – this includes Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA work eligibility. However, undocumented students (or DACA) are not eligible for Federal Work-study.

Q: What happens if I am admitted to Governors State as an undocumented student, but the I am finally able to get my permanent resident card?
A: You should submit this new information to the Admissions Office, as this could help you qualify for federal assistance.

Immigration FAQs