Undocumented Students

Kishwaukee College recommends working with local legal experts who specialize in immigration legal services. The resources are provided below.

No. Kishwaukee College Campus Security and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office are not involved in immigration enforcement. The Illinois TRUST Act prohibits law enforcement from assisting ICE in immigration enforcement operations.

No. Your information is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and Kish will not share your information.

Kish offers resources to our students and community members who may feel uncomfortable interacting with police. Anyone with emergency issues should call 911. For non-emergency safety concerns, you can contact the following areas: 

• Academic Advising: onestop@kish.edu or 815-826-9375
• Undocumented Liaison, Greg Putra: 815-825-9649 
• Submit a H.U.B Referral Request

Illinois state law prohibits 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.

• The Fifth Amendment gives you the right to remain silent and not answer questions asked by a police officer or any other governmental official.
• The Fourth Amendment restricts the government’s power to enter your home or workplace or to search your car.
• The First Amendment protects your right to speak freely and to advocate for social change. Realize that immigration officials can target you based on your political activities if you are a noncitizen and are deportable.
• Immigration officials are now part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS has three sections:
  • The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS)
  • The Bureau of Customs and Border Control
  • The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

• Immigrant Community Resources
• Know Your Rights When Encountering ICE (En Español)
• Have a Safety Plan
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Travel Guide
• Data Protections for FAFSA

• 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY (1-855-435-7693) in English/Spanish/Korean/Polish
• Hotline call options:
  • Immigrant Family Support Program (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) financial support program)
  • Report ICE activity
  • Support to locate someone in ICE custody
  • Connect with an immigration attorney
  • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
  • Health care resources for immigrants and refugees
  • Public charge updates
  • Workplace rights, issues or safety for immigrants

Kishwaukee College has an "open door" admission policy and is open to all in-district residents of Community College District 523. All new students, including dual credit and students who have been inactive for two years or more, should complete the Kishwaukee College Application. DACA or undocumented students who apply do not require a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

To apply to Kish, follow these simple steps. 

Illinois MAP Grant — Undocumented students can apply for Illinois MAP Grants through the RISE Act.

Scholarships — Apply for a Kish Foundation Scholarships to help cover the cost of attendance.

FAFSA — Students who are citizens but have parents who are undocumented can still apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Kish does not report this information to any agencies.

Payment Plan — Students can set up a payment plan with the Kish Business Office. 

Kishwaukee College's Benefits Nagivator can help students find the benefits they qualify for, including housing and citizenship matters. To get started on finding assistance, please fill out the H.U.B. (Housing, Undocumented and Benefits Navigation) Referral Form.

HUB Referral Form

• Housing Authority of the County of DeKalb
• Hope Haven
• Salvation Army DeKalb

• DeKalb Area Food Pantries
• Kody's Cupboard Food Pantry
• SNAP Benefits

• New Horizons Law Group
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)
• National Immigrant Justice Center
• National Immigrant Law Center
• North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic

• TheDream.US

• Public Transportation