Undocumented Students, Faculty & Staff: Policies and Resources

In compliance with California AB21, JPCatholic has designated the Dean of Students to serve as a point of contact for any student, faculty, or staff person who may or could be subject to an immigration order or inquiry on campus. Eleazar Palma can be contacted at epalma@jpcatholic.edu

Unless the disclosure is permitted by state and federal education privacy law, faculty and staff persons will not discuss or reveal the personal information, including immigration status information, of any student, faculty, or staff person with anyone.

It is the University’s policy to notify, as soon as possible, the emergency contact of a student, faculty, or staff person if there is reason to suspect that the person has been taken into custody as the result of an immigration enforcement action.

All students, faculty, and staff are advised to notify the office of the president, or his designee, as soon as possible, if he or she is advised that an immigration officer is expected to enter, will enter, or has entered the campus to execute a federal immigration order. All students, faculty, and staff responding to or having contact with an immigration officer executing a federal immigration order, are also advised to promptly refer the entity or individual to the office of the president, or his designee, for purposes of verifying the legality of any warrant, court order, or subpoena.

A brief overview of the rights of students, faculty, and staff can be accessed here.

In addition, the following legal resources may be helpful for undocumented or immigrant students. A copy will be provided free of charge upon request.

Please note that the resources listed are not affiliated with the University, and we don’t make any certifications regarding their services.


Legal Aid Society of San Diego

www.lassd.org (Click on What We Do. Click on Safety and Stability. Click on Immigration.)

Locations:

Southeast San Diego Office

110 S. Euclid Avenue,
San Diego, CA 92114

Midtown Office

1764 San Diego Avenue, Suite 200,
San Diego, CA 92110

North County Office

216 S. Tremont Street,
Oceanside, CA 92054

Hours:

Monday - Friday
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Walk-ins welcome.

Telephone:

(877) 534-2524

Client Eligibility:

Based on financial need and residency in San Diego County.

Services:

Family-based immigration issues, including naturalization and citizenship, Removal defense (Immigration Court), AVAWA, AU and T Visas, Green Card Renewal, Waivers, No affirmative asylum claims. No DACA, DAPA, or employment-based issues. Safety-planning presentations to groups, such as university organizations. (Contact Senior Attorney, Miko Tokuhama-Olsen)


Casa Cornelia Law Center

www.casacornelia.org
Locations:

2760 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200,
San Diego, CA 92103-6325

Hours:

Monday - Thursday
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Walk-ins welcome.

Telephone:

(619) 231-7788

Fax:

(619) 231-7784

Services:

Representation of unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers, and victims of crime. Information sessions on discrete topics, like DACA.

Client Eligibility:

Application process based on financial need.

Immigration Justice Project (IJP) of San Diego

Contacts:

Grety Moreira

Administrative Assistant
(619) 255-8810

Karla Rodriguez

Paralegal
(619) 255-8817

Locations:

Legal orientation program for individuals receiving a notice to appear for proceedings at the San Diego Immigration Court.

Fax:

(619) 568-3674

Client Eligibility:

Based on financial need.

Services:
  • Counseling services for individuals detained at the San Diego Immigration Detention Center in Otay Mesa.
  • Referrals to pro bono immigration law attorneys.
  • Know Your Rights presentations. (To schedule a presentation call Staff Attorney Edith Polanco at 255-8823.)

Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego

www.ccdsd.org (Click on Programs. Click on Immigrant Services)

Locations:

San Diego

4575 B Mission Gorge Place
San Diego, CA 92120

(619) 287-1270

South Bay

293 H Street
Chula Vista, CA 91910

(619) 498-0722

North County

5 Parish Locations: Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos and Vista

(760) 631-5890

Services:

Assistance with the following immigration applications: adjustment of status, family visa petitions, DACA, citizenship and naturalization, employment authorization, travel documents, T and U visas, affidavits of support, legal permanent resident card renewal, fee waivers, domestic violence cases, family unity, and consular processing.

Presentations on immigration law topics. (To schedule a presentation or a group information session, call (619) 287-1270.)


Jewish Family Service

www.jfssd.org (Click on Programs by Name. Click on Immigration Program)

Location:

8788 Balboa Avenue
San Diego, CA 92123

Hours:

Monday - Friday
8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Telephone:

(858) 637-3245

Services:

Adjustment of status–green cards (family-based, refugees, asylees, replacement green cards), and family reunification (petitioning for a relative to come to the U.S. or to stay in the U.S.) administrative relief–DACA, DAPA assistance with applications for citizenship and naturalization; travel documents, work authorization, and fee waivers.


International Rescue Committee (San Diego Office)

www.Rescue.org/sandiego
Location:

5348 University Ave. Suite 205A
San Diego, CA 92105

Telephone:

(619) 641-7510, ext. 250

Fax:

(619) 641-7520

Hours:

Monday - Friday
8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
(Drop in or call for appointment)

Services:

Assistance completing and submitting the following forms: adjustment of status, consular processing, DACA, unlawful presence waivers, employment authorization, travel documents, document replacement, family-based petitions, naturalization/citizenship, VAWA petitions, and fee waivers.


San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium

Click here

Clearing House Websites

(Providing information about San Diego attorneys and law firms specializing in immigration law.)

  • Avvo (Enter San Diego, CA immigration attorneys.)
  • FindLaw (Enter immigration and naturalization law, San Diego, CA.)
  • Justia (Under Legal Practice Areas, click on Immigration. Under Immigration Resources, click on Lawyers & Attorneys. Click on California. Click on San Diego.)
  • Yellow Pages (Enter immigration lawyers near San Diego, CA.)
  • Yelp (Under Find, enter immigration law. Under Near, enter San Diego, CA.)