Deferred Action

Any Texas A&M University student who is not a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident is considered to be an international student. Texas A&M University International Student Services office seeks to provide support and resources to any and all international students—including those who are undocumented.
 
The current situation for undocumented individuals remains uncertain, as there are new developments every day. As a part of our commitment to our students, we have gathered the following resources for our DACA student community.

Please note: All external links provided herein are meant solely to provide potential resources to students. As such, the university is not responsible for content or views contained therein. Students are always encouraged to check with the US Department of Homeland Security and United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) to get the most accurate information about immigration regulations, policy and updates.  

Resources for Undocumented College Students: https://www.informedimmigrant.com/guides/undocumented-college-students/

Important DACA Update (July 19, 2021)
  • July 16, 2021: A federal judge ruled against DACA.  The injunction prevents approval of new DACA applications; however, it does not order "DHS or any other governmental entity to cancel or otherwise terminate DACA status for any individual who is currently, as of this date, a DACA recipient in good standing.  Further, nothing in this injunction requires DHS or the Department of Justice to take any immigration, deportation, or criminal action against any DACA recipient, applicant, or any other individual that either would not otherwise take."   USCIS is taking steps to comply with the injunction.  ISS will be closely monitoring how the DACA injunction is implemented. 
  • January 20, 2021: President Biden issued a Presidential Proclamation called Preserving and Fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
  • December 7, 2020: USCIS, in compliance to a court order, began accepting first-time DACA applications again, returned to issuing DACA for two years and EADs for two years.  https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/consideration-of-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-daca

On June 15, 2012, then-Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano issued a memorandum entitled “Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States as Children,” creating a non-congressionally authorized administrative program that permitted certain individuals who came to the United States as juveniles and meet several criteria—including lacking any current lawful immigration status—to request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and eligibility for work authorization.  This program became known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). – US Department of Homeland Security
 

 
The following sources provide in-depth answers to some commonly asked questions surrounding the current state of DACA affairs. Topics covered include: DACA Validity, DACA Renewal, Employment Authorization, Taxes, and more:

USCIS’s FAQ on DACA Renewal: https://www.uscis.gov/archive/frequently-asked-questions#renewal%20of%20DACA

The National Immigration Law Center’s FAQ, updated regularly in response to changes in ongoing DACA litigation and news: https://www.nilc.org/issues/daca/
 
Additional FAQ’s can be found below:
https://www.ilrc.org/daca
https://www.informedimmigrant.com/guides/daca/
There are a variety of legal immigration services available to undocumented persons in Texas.

For low cost legal representation students are also welcome to visit the site for the Catholic Charities of Central Texas at https://www.ccctx.org/immigration-legal-services/. Please note, to be eligible for their services you must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
 
For pro-bono legal services, you can visit: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers
 
The Texas State Bar website also provides a comprehensive search tool to find qualified immigration attorneys based a variety of criteria, including fee options offered: https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&Template=/CustomSource/MemberDirectory/Search_Form_Client_Main.cfm

Undocumented students and their families can also visit FIEL Houston, at https://fielhouston.org/immigrationservices/, for more legal resources.

With the uncertainty surrounding DACA, many undocumented individuals find themselves wondering if they may be eligible for a more permanent immigration status. Unfortunately, the only person truly able to make that determination is a qualified immigration attorney. We have, however, gathered the following resources to help undocumented individuals determine whether they would like to pursue these potential options.
 
For a simple checklist outlining factors that may make an undocumented person eligible for a more permanent immigration status, see: https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/practice_advisory/screening-potential-daca-requestors-other-forms-relief(Page 15)
If you are facing deportation, please contact ISS by scheduling an appointment with the director or if it is immediate, call 979-845-1824 and press 2 to be transfered to the ISS emergency call center.

Information on how to apply for Texas A&M University can be found here: http://admissions.tamu.edu

Residency for Tuition Purposes: 36 Month Provision
The Texas A&M University Office of the Registrar determines residency for tuition purposes.  Some international students may be eligible for residency based upon the 36-Month Provision, which allows residency through high school graduation in Texas.
 
To establish residency through high school graduation, a person must:
-Graduate from a high school in Texas or receive a GED in Texas; and
-Physically reside in Texas for the 36 consecutive months immediately prior to high school graduation; and
-Physically reside in Texas for the 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the census date of the semester in which the student enrolls in a Texas public college or university.
 
Students should then submit a copy of the Affidavit of Intent which is available at the Office of the Registrar's web page.
 
For more details on determining Residency for your admissions application, see: http://registrar.tamu.edu/Catalogs,-Policies-Procedures/State-Policies/Residency
 
After determining your residency status, you are also encouraged to fill out an application to see which kinds of financial aid for which you may be eligible at http://financialaid.tamu.edu/Apply.
There are a variety of different resources available to international and undocumented students to help cover college costs. Current and future students are encouraged to contact and visit the office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for the most comprehensive information on available scholarships and financial aid options.

All international students are required to check in with the ISS office at the start of their first semester. International students returning from a break in studies are required to check in with the ISS office as well. Prior to their arrival or return, all international students are blocked from course registration. Students must attend Check-In in order to have the registration hold removed.
Student Counseling Services has a dedicated page of resources for undocumented students. With services ranging from career counseling to student support groups to crisis intervention, as well as personal counselling from advisors specifically trained on the unique circumstances facing undocumented students, SCS is a valuable resource for any Aggie.
Student Health Services
For help on health insurance, visit: http://iss.tamu.edu/Prospective-Students/Health-Insurance
The Texas A&M Career Center  is a valuable resource to any student looking to their future—be it career advice, interview prep, or help entering a professional school, the Career Center is there!

Wondering if you’re eligible for a Social Security Number, and how to get one? See the Social Security Administration’s page on SSN’s for recipients of Deferred Action.
For information on filing taxes, you can visit: http://iss.tamu.edu/Current-Students/Taxes

Information regarding the International Withholding tax is located at http://iss.tamu.edu/Current-Students/Taxes/International-Withholding-Tax.
 
For specific tax questions, students are encouraged to email ISS at iss@tamu.edu
US law requires that certain individuals register with Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday.
 
Individuals subject to this requirement are:
            -Male, and
            -Between the ages of 18 and 25, and
-Living in the United States (individuals on non-immigrant visa types are exempt)
 
More information on the Selective Service System and how to sign up can be found here: https://www.sss.gov/
Student Activities at Texas A&M University
As Texas A&M students, undocumented students are encouraged to take part in campus events, activities and organizations. Check out what there is to offer at: http://studentactivities.tamu.edu/
You can also find out what student organizations are out there on https://stuactonline.tamu.edu/app/ 
 
Multicultural Services
The mission of the Texas A&M’s Department of Multicultural services is to provide multiple support services for current and prospective students from underrepresented populations and to offer diversity education programs that foster inclusive learning environments for all students. They offer a variety of events and resources, and their website can be found at MSC Suite 2200!

Council for Minority Student Affairs
CMSA seeks to provide a voice to underrepresented immigrant and minority communities on campus, and is a valuable resource for our undocumented students.
 
ISS Events
TAMU International Student Services hosts a number of events throughout the year, and all international and undocumented students are encouraged to attend. For a detailed description of the events available, as well as the upcoming dates, please visit ISS Events and Programs or ISS Calendar of Events
 
Student groups
You can search the student groups found at Texas A&M here: https://stuactonline.tamu.edu/app/organization/profile/public/id/376
 
 

Resources