Legal service provided to immigrant students "is a necessity, not a luxury," says Viridiana Diaz, assistant vice president for Strategic Diversity Initiatives. (Sacramento State/Erica Perez)
By Cynthia Hubert
New state funding will provide expanded immigrant legal services to students and employees across the California State University system, a significant infusion of resources to better meet clear needs for such support.
At Sacramento State, which was a leader in providing legal services when it opened a weekly immigrant legal clinic in 2017, the new funding is a welcome boost. The clinic, staffed by attorneys who have worked pro bono for students, employees and their families, generally is booked solid most Fridays.
Being able to expand the clinic's reach will provide benefits that could have a notable impact, according to Viridiana Diaz, assistant vice president for Strategic Diversity Initiatives.
The CSU Chancellor's Office announced on Aug. 28 a plan to provide immigration legal services to students and employees across the system. The state is providing $7 million to deliver legal help through specialists who will regularly visit universities within the CSU system. Individual specialists each will provide services for universities in relatively close proximity to each other.
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights will provide services at Sac State, Chico State, Humboldt State and Sonoma State.
Diaz said the additional support will allow access to legal help for more people on campus and expand services beyond current levels.
“We started the immigration clinic on our own because the need and demand were so high,” Diaz said. “It’s very hard for students to be successful when they are unable to focus on their studies because they are living with anxiety, fear and uncertainty” about their immigration status.
“The least we can do is provide legal support to address their immediate concerns.”
Two years ago, Sac State established partnerships with five nonprofit organizations that have been sending immigration attorneys to campus once a week. But because of overwhelming demand, lawyers must focus mostly on relatively uncomplicated issues such as consultations and DACA renewals, Diaz said.
The new attorney assigned to Sac State will help shrink waiting lists and be able to take on longer-term cases, some of which take years to resolve, she said.
CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White said the additional funding will bring legal guidance and “some peace of mind” to CSU students and employees facing immigration concerns.
“We remain committed to ensuring that all CSU students have the opportunity to pursue their higher education goals regardless of their country of origin,” White said. “This inclusive foundation extends to our employees, who demonstrate dedication to student achievement and success on a daily basis.”
Sac State President Robert S. Nelsen called the plan “absolutely critical” to the success of students who are dealing with immigration concerns. The financial support will allow Sac State to “provide much-needed resources to our undocumented students to ensure that they are able to continue to pursue their higher education at our University,” Nelsen said.
The new attorney assigned to Sac State is expected to be on campus on Fridays, and will begin work in late September or early October, Diaz said. Students and employees can make appointments for the legal clinic through the Dreamer Resource Center on campus. The center's phone number is 916-278-7241.
Erik Ramirez, the center's program coordinator, said the clinic already has produced tangible results.
"We’ve seen these services directly impact the ability of our students to focus on classes, extracurricular activities, and other responsibilities," he said. "Ultimately, the clinic contributes to the achievement of students’ academic, professional, and personal goals."
The new funding and partnerships represent powerful commitments, Diaz said.
“I think it’s wonderful that the state and the CSU have made it a priority to allocate funds for legal support for college students,” she said. “We work with students holistically, and this helps ensure that they feel safe and supported.
“For these students, this resource is a necessity, not a luxury, and it’s great that we are finally acknowledging that.”