Due to Covid-19, in-person information sessions are not currently being held. Students should contact an Admissions DSO at [email protected] for more information.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

Background

The Department of Homeland Security provided that individuals satisfying all of the following criteria are eligible to have removal from the U.S. deferred for two years. Students can learn more about the DACA program.

Students may request DACA if you:

1. Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
2. Came to the U.S. before reaching your 16th birthday;
3. Have continuously resided in the U.S. since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
4. Were physically present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
5. Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012, meaning that:
   • You never had a lawful immigration status on or before June 15, 2012, or
   • Any lawful immigration status or parole that you obtained prior to June 15, 2012, had expired as of June 15, 2012;
6. Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the U.S.; and
7. Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

DACA Applicability to the North Carolina Community College System “Admission to Colleges” Rule

The State Board of Community Colleges Code (State Board Code) provides the general admissions policy that “Each college shall maintain an open-door policy to all applicants who are legal residents of the U.S. and who are either high school graduates or at least 18 years of age.”

There is an exception to the general open-door policy that is applicable to undocumented immigrants. The State Board Code provides that “undocumented immigrant” means any immigrant who is not lawfully present in the U.S.

The State Board then goes on to provide certain limitations on the admission of undocumented immigrants.

During the period of deferment, individuals who have been granted deferral under the DACA program do not meet the definition of an undocumented immigrant as it is defined in ID SBCCC 400.2(b) because the deferral recipients are lawfully present in the U.S. during the period of deferment. Please note that it is not within the authority of community colleges to determine who is eligible to receive DACA classification. Student applicants are responsible for presenting documentation to establish that they have DACA classification.

Implementation of “Admission to Colleges” Rule to Students with DACA Classification

The phrase “legal residency” in ID SBCCC 400.2(a) means individuals who are “lawfully present” in the U.S., solely for the purpose of ID SBCCC 400.2(a). Since individuals with DACA classification are lawfully present during their period of deferral and do not fit the definition of an undocumented immigrant per ID SBCCC 400.2(b), community colleges should treat an individual with DACA classification like any other student who is lawfully present in the U.S. with two exception:

1. Neither federal law, nor North Carolina law permits individuals with DACA classifications to receive professional licenses. See 8 U.S.C. and 1621(a) and (c)(1)(A). Because individuals with DACA classification cannot receive professional licenses, while community colleges are open-door institutions, local community colleges have the discretion to determine whether to admit an individual with DACA classification into a specific program of study leading to professional licensure. More specifically, a local community college would be authorized to deny access to an individual with DACA classification into a specific program of study that leads to professional licensure. Conversely, a local community college would be authorized to allow access to an individual with DACA classification into a specific program of study that leads to professional licensure.
2. Moreover, it is the current position of the State Residence Committee that individuals with DACA classification do not have the capacity to receive in-state tuition.

Admission to Colleges

The State Board of Community Colleges Code states the policy of admission of student under the DACA classification will be to maintain an open-door admission policy to all applicants who are legal residents of the U.S. and who are either high school graduates or are at least 18 years of age. Student Admission processing and placement determination shall be performed by the officials of each college. Admissions requirements for an emancipated minors shall be the same as an applicant of 18 years or older. Provisions with respect to admission of minors are set forth in Rule .0305 of this Section.

For the purposes of this Section, “undocumented immigrant” means any immigrant who is not lawfully present in the U.S. Community colleges shall admit undocumented immigrants under the following conditions:

1. Community colleges shall admit an undocumented immigrant only is he or she attended and graduated from a U.S. public high school, private high school, or home school that operates in compliance with State or local law;
2. When determining who is an undocumented immigrant, community colleges shall use federal immigration classifications;
3. Undocumented immigrants admitted under Subparagraph(b)(1) of this Rule must comply with all federal and state laws concerning financial aid;
4. An undocumented immigrant admitted under Subparagraph(b)(1) of this Rule shall not be considered a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes. All undocumented immigrants admitted under Subparagraph(b)(1) of this Rule must be charged out of state tuition whether or not they reside in North Carolina;
5. When considering whether to admit an undocumented immigrant into a specific program of study, community colleges shall take into account that federal law prohibits states from granting professional licenses to undocumented immigrants; and
6. Students lawfully present in the U.S. shall have priority over any undocumented immigrant in any class or program of study when capacity limitations exist.

Contact

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 252-335-0821 ext. 2217