Stanislaus State expands support for undocumented students amid rising fears

As fears increase among undocumented students and those from mixed-status families, Stanislaus State aims to provide students with legal, professional and mental health resources.

“A lot of the students that are connected with our center are really connecting to get more guidance on how to prepare for potential things that could happen in our community,” said Guillermo Metelin Bock, the Undocumented Student Services lead at Stanislaus State.

Across the California State University system, 10,000 students have undocumented status, and throughout the state, over 3.3 million people live in mixed-status homes. Under the second Donald Trump presidency, dream centers are seeing increased demand for resources. Dream centers are dedicated spaces on campuses to provide financial, academic, legal and emotional support to undocumented students.

At Stan State, Undocumented Student Services provides students access to licensed therapists and mental health professionals to address fear and other emotions experienced by students amid the fear of deportations. Metelin Bock said he believes it is essential to address students’ social-emotional needs to create an environment where they can academically succeed.

“The fear is real,” Metelin Bock said. “There is a constant fear of being detained and families being separated. Students are always keeping that back of their head. These fears contribute to not only the social-emotional welling of the student, but also on whether the student continues pursuing their education.”

In addition to mental health resources, the center provides educational and legal resources. This year, it is focused on building partnerships with immigration attorneys and family law attorneys and is planning to host family preparedness workshops for students and community members.

On Oct. 16, the center will host an Undocu-Day of Action for students to network, build solidarity and connect with legal professionals.

“Students are asking themselves, ‘Am I safe to go out in my community? Am I going to be deported? Am I going to be separated from my family?’” Metelin Bock said. “Those are all questions that students have and have had for quite a while and it definitely has increased most recently. That’s why we connect our students with our immigration attorneys because we want to ensure that they have those family preparedness plans.”

The center is also hosting Undocu-Ally training throughout the year to share best practices for allies supporting undocumented students on and off campus. In addition to distributing Know Your Rights red cards on campus, the center’s website features digital resources and animated videos in various languages about constitutional rights.

The center is also focused on building community and solidarity among undocumented students and allies. One of its collaborations, titled “Cafecito, Conchas, and Chisme,” focuses on creating sessions where students and therapists can talk about emotions and coping strategies amid uncertainty.

“We acknowledge their emotions, but we also reiterate that there are support systems here in the university and off campus to ensure their success, not only their personal, but professional and academic success,” Metelin Bock said. “I think that all of those supports are so important, especially at a time where it’s so unpredictable as well.”

To learn more about Stan State’s Undocumented Student Services, visit www.csustan.edu/undocumented-student-services, call 209-667-3519 or email dreamers@csustan.edu.