The program, funded by the State of California, offers free and confidential legal assistance to thousands of undocumented students. Its goal: to remove the barriers that prevent young people from continuing their education without fear of deportation.
Trump’s immigration policies have put everyone in check. Fear and concern over deportation have increased across the United States in recent months. This anxiety has also spread among students, who fear the repercussions of a government that disrupts their academic and personal progress. However, the outlook is not entirely bleak thanks to several initiatives. In California, community colleges are doubling down on their efforts to ensure the safety of immigrant families.
From that commitment emerged Find Your Ally, a network that provides high-quality immigration legal assistance to students at risk of deportation. In a briefing help by American Community Media (ACoM), experts and key leaders behind the program shared details about the initiative.
Free and Confidential Legal Support
The first to speak was Alonso García, Senior Manager for Equity at the Foundation, who explained that the program provides free and confidential legal services to students, faculty, and staff across California’s 116 community college campuses. This includes assistance with DACA renewals, naturalization applications, family petitions, and travel authorizations (Advance Parole).
“What makes Find Your Ally unique is that it’s a program fully funded by the State of California. Every year, the state invests around 10 million dollars in this valuable resource,” said García.
The program does not require a minimum income level or verify immigration status. Participants only need to be enrolled in a course or employed at a community college to access the service. Beneficiaries can also continue receiving legal assistance even after graduation, as immigration processes often take years to resolve.
García also emphasized the system’s confidentiality, noting that personal data is deleted within 48 hours after the appointment and that all information goes directly to attorneys, with no intermediaries. “Everything is 100% confidential, safe, and private,” he stressed.
Since its launch, Find Your Ally has served more than 30,000 students and maintains a presence across all campuses, both in person and virtually. According to García, online services have become a lifeline for students amid increased immigration enforcement in their communities.
“Our goal is to eliminate barriers so that no student is left without legal representation,” García stated.
Finally, he highlighted that state funding remains stable despite budget deficits, thanks to the current governor’s strong commitment to immigrant communities.
Misinformation, Fear, and Fraud
Yadira Gutiérrez, an attorney at the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), underscored the direct impact of the Find Your Ally program on undocumented students in California, who face educational, financial, and emotional challenges that go far beyond the classroom.
“Undocumented students face challenges that others do not. Going to college is already difficult; when you add immigration issues, it becomes even more complex,” she said.
As a supervising attorney at CARECEN, Gutiérrez explained that the organization provides full legal representation across 12 community colleges, handling a wide range of immigration cases. She also emphasized that Find Your Ally serves anyone affiliated with a campus, regardless of immigration status or income.
“Our ability to see anyone, as long as they’re affiliated with the campus, opens the door for many people seeking a second opinion or representation,” she noted.
However, Gutiérrez also expressed concern about the major obstacles her offices face. One of the most pressing is misinformation.“Our office works to combat it by offering community-wide webinars every fall and spring,” she said. She also highlighted the widespread fear of legal fraud, especially from fake notaries.
“We want people to seek reliable help. If it’s not with us, at least with someone trustworthy,” she urged.
But without a doubt, the greatest challenge for Gutiérrez lies in the political decisions made under the Trump administration. “This can be a huge barrier for someone who’s already paying for their education and can’t work. It also takes an emotional toll on students,” she concluded.