Ever since its establishment in 2017, the California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) DREAMer Resource Office (DRO) has served over 2983* students and their loved ones through the many services and resources offered. The DRO has been a constant support system that has encouraged us as students to be confident enough to come together and voice our concerns in spaces where we may not always be comfortable doing so. Unfortunately, funding for the DRO has always been uncertain, given that they are currently funded by a 3-year grant as opposed to being institutionalized and funded by the university. The funding from the grant ends June 30, 2021, and at this moment, although we have heard of different promises from the university (such as DRO space expansion, adding a coordinator position, and hiring peer mentors), it still feels like there is no guarantee for the future of the DRO. To have the DRO in a position that prevents them from actively supporting students due to limited funds and privileges is silencing the students who may want, or need, to use the DRO as a shield/voice when they are not comfortable using their own. 

In addition, it is no secret that undocumented students contribute to the incoming tuition for CSUSM. According to data collected from the most recent update of the UndocuAlly training presented by the CSUSM DREAMer Resource Office, there are approximately 432 undocumented/AB 540 students enrolled for the Spring 2021 semester *. This number may not be an accurate representation of the actual number of undocumented students on our campus given that this data is based on self-disclosure. Unfortunately, undocumented students are not granted the privilege of financial aid and many scholarships are limited. An undocumented student may receive financial assistance if they apply for Assembly Bill (AB) 540 which can help undocumented students, US citizens, and legal permanent residents pay in-state tuition. Only if a student qualifies for AB540 they may be eligible to apply for the California Dream Act (CADA), which since 2011, allows students who are undocumented to qualify for state grants, scholarships that were not previously open to undocumented students, and loans. Although this can be considered a good thing, it is also not so great in the sense that students might not have the ability to work after college due to their status, which can bring additional financial challenges. Additionally, not every student may be eligible to apply for the AB 540 and CADA. Therefore at the DRO, among many other things, students are informed about financial aid available and guided to make their own financial decision based on the limited resources available to them.

If this community is bringing money into the institution through tuition, it is crucial that the university acknowledges and acts upon the fact that these students deserve the right to a location on campus that will continue to support, assist, voice, and promote the voices of our undocumented and mixed-status students. The university must keep in mind that, now more than ever, the global pandemic has negatively affected and silenced the voices of many of our students. The DRO deserves protection to serve as a student advocacy establishment, especially because it is needed to support all of the individuals who are vulnerable under the institution. 

We urge you to support us in raising awareness regarding the invaluable asset that the DREAMer Resource Office is to California State University San Marcos. Not only will this show that undocumented students are deserving of this space, but it will be a true statement to whether or not CSUSM does support and advocate for Undocumented and Mixed-Status students. 

*Collected from the 2019-2020 academic school year. Numbers only reflect the Fall of 2019 and not Spring 2020. Collected from CSUSM DREAMer Resource Office data infographic. 

*Additional information collected from most recent UndocuAlly Training provided by the CSUSM DREAMer Resource Office.