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CC Cares - General Resources: Undocumented Student Resources

General Resources for Cerro Coso Students

COVID-19 Testing and Healthcare Access

Everyone, regardless of immigration status, is eligible for testing and treatment of communicable diseases, including coronavirus.

COVID-19 testing and treatment is not considered a negative factor in the public charge analysis. See USCIS’ statement here.

COVID-19 testing is entirely free for anyone, regardless of health care coverage status or immigration status.

If you are enrolled in a health plan, it is important that you and your family get the care you need! If you are not insured and need medical care, you have other options:

  • See if you qualify for Medi-Cal (California’s public health insurance program) or a subsidized plan on Covered California.
  • Medi-Cal re-eligibility determinations have been waived through June 17.
  • Look for a public hospital or community health clinic near you with free or low-cost health care services (you can search this website for a center near you).
  • To learn more about your health care coverage options, look here.

For more information on your legal health rights, see Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information by the Health Consumer Alliance, Protect Your Health by the Protecting Immigrant Families, and Access to Health Care for Immigrants by National Immigration Law Center.

Cash and Food Assistance

Relief Funds for Undocumented Workers in California

Cash and Food Assistance (Food Banks, CalWORKS, and CalFresh)

  • See if you or your children qualify for CalWORKS, a cash assistance program with other services, or CalFresh, food and nutrition services, so that you can get supplemental assistance during this time.
  • Unfortunately, most undocumented immigrants, TPS recipients, and DACA recipients generally are not eligible for CalFresh or CalWORKS, but there are exceptions.
  • Even if you don't qualify due to your immigration status, your children may qualify if they are US citizens or have lawful status. These benefits could help your family during this time.
  • Re-eligibility determinations for those who currently receive CalWORKS and/or CalFresh benefits have been waived through June 17.
  • You do not have to provide your immigration status if you are undocumented and are applying for these benefits for your children or family member.
  • Only the person seeking benefits must provide their citizenship or immigration status. If you are applying on behalf of an eligible family member, such as your child, you only need to share the information for that family member. If you are undocumented and apply for a family member, you should not provide any information about your immigration status. Instead, you can say, "I am not applying for health insurance for myself."

Unemployment Insurance

  • For a complete guide to workers' rights and replacement earnings, visit this guide.
  • If your employer has reduced your hours or stopped operations due to coronavirus, you may be able to file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim. You may also be eligible for UI payments if your child’s school or daycare is closed and you have to miss work to care for them.
  • To be eligible for UI, you must 1) have had work authorization during the time you earned the wages used to establish your claim and 2) still have work authorization each week in which you are claiming benefits. California allows DACA recipients with unexpired work permits to apply for UI benefits if they meet all other eligibility criteria.
  • California has waived the usual one-week unpaid waiting period for people missing work due to coronavirus. You can collect UI payments for the first week you are out of work.

Paid Sick Leave

  • If your employer provides paid sick leave, and you cannot work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19, as certified by a medical professional, you can use your accrued paid sick leave to continue being paid for the time you miss work. You may also be eligible for Disability Insurance (see below).
  • Your employer should provide you with the number of paid sick days you have accrued.
  • Citizenship and immigration status does not affect eligibility for paid sick leave.

California State Disability Insurance (SDI)

  • If you cannot work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19, as certified by a medical professional, you may be able to file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim.
  • Citizenship and immigration status does not affect eligibility for DI.
  • California has waived the usual one-week unpaid waiting period for people missing work due to coronavirus. You can collect DI payments for the first week you are out of work.

California State Paid Family Leave (PFL)

  • If you cannot work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19, as certified by a medical professional, you may be able to file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim.
  • Citizenship and immigration status does not affect eligibility for PFL.
  • PFL does not have a waiting period for benefits.
  • If eligible, you can receive PFL payments for up to 6 weeks.

Workers’ Compensation

  • If you are unable to do your usual job because you contracted COVID-19 during the regular course of your work, you may be able to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits such as temporary disability payments or medical treatment.
  • Citizenship and immigration status does not affect eligibility for workers’ compensation.

Free Immigration Legal Services

UFW Foundation

Free Immigration Legal Services

  • Open to ALL Community College students, faculty, and staff.
  • Services include:
    • General immigration consultants
    • DACA
    • Citizenship
    • Family petitions
    • Adjustment of status
    • Visas (U, T, and Special Immigrant Juvenile)
    • and more!
  • Due to COVID-19, appointments will be remote via Zoom/phone.
  • Click here for Appointments
  • Please call 1-877-881-8281 for time-sensitive matters or for assistance with making an appointment.

Visit https://www.cerrocoso.edu for more information on services available for Dreamers, AB540, and DACA Students.

Other Immigration Services

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

  • All USCIS field offices, asylum offices, and Application Support Centers (ASCs) will not provide in-person services (including interviews, naturalization ceremonies, and biometric collection appointments) until at least April 1. USCIS will continue to provide emergency services during this time. Emergency service requests can be made here.
  • USCIS field offices will send re-scheduling notices to applicants and petitioners with scheduled appointments impacted by the closure. All applicants will be rescheduled when USCIS resumes normal operations. Please make sure USCIS has your current address; if your address has changed, you are required to update USCIS using Form AR-11, which can be submitted online.

Immigration Enforcement Activity 

  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released a statement describing its intention to “not carry out enforcement operations at or near health care facilities, such as hospitals, doctors' offices, accredited health clinics, and emergent or urgent care facilities, except in the most extraordinary of circumstances.” The statement also says that “Individuals should not avoid seeking medical care because they fear civil immigration enforcement.”