Administrative officials at Central Connecticut State University were looking for “creative ideas” to pay undocumented students for internships “in a way that doesn’t mention ‘employment’ or require a social security number,’” according to emails obtained by Inside Investigator under a Freedom of Information request.
“The President’s Undocumented Student Committee is looking for creative ideas for helping undocumented (or underdocumented) students find paid internships/experiential learning opportunities,” CCSU career coach Audra Mika wrote in a September 13, 2024, email. “Other universities have set up grants, scholarships, fellowships, and stipends to pay these students in a way that doesn’t mention ‘employment’ or require a social security number.”
“PJ and I want to see what is possible,” the email continued. “Thank you for any suggestions you might have for helping our undocumented students find paid jobs.”
The email, which was sent to the university’s grants department, was met with a swift rebuke informing Mika and others copied on the email that it would be “morally wrong,” and “illegal,” particularly because the grants overseen in that department were for CCSU faculty, awarded based on a competitive application process, and contain clauses that require anyone paid with the grant money to be a U.S. citizen.
“If you were told that other universities are using grants ‘to pay these students’ you were misled, or those individuals are doing something illegally and, in my opinion, have no morals,” wrote Kathleen Moore of the CCSU’s Office of Post-Award Grants in a fiery response.
Paul Rossitto, director of the career development office, forwarded Moore’s response to CCSU Associate Vice President Carmen Veloria who severs on the Undocumented Student Committee with Rossitto and Mika, writing, “FYI, we have some people that work at the university that don’t believe we should help all students.”
Although it appears CCSU officials are looking for ways to employ undocumented immigrants and students in a way that could get a private business in trouble, CCSU Spokeswoman Jodi Latina says, “there was no intent to mislead or circumvent any laws.”
“This email message was misinterpreted by the receiver. The committee member was exploring avenues to support students within the confines of what is permissible under the law,” Latina wrote in an email. “The requester was inquiring as to whether there are any avenues we aren’t already exploring that exist legally for undocumented students.”
Responses to Audra’s request from officials at Southern Connecticut State University indicated that there is scholarship funding for “Dream Scholars” through a partnership with TheDream.US. That scholarship only covers “Dreamers” or undocumented students covered under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) bill, and does not apply to all undocumented students.
SCSU also offered the Monarch Scholarship and funds “for undoc students who work on campus doing an academic internship,” as ideas. Eastern Connecticut State University suggested getting undocumented students Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN), which could enable them to get a bank account, work as an independent contractor, and pay taxes but still “does not provide work authorization or legal status,” according to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.
The takeaway for CCSU officials was to encourage undocumented students to get ITINs; approach local businesses to gauge their interest in “hiring/supporting undocumented students as interns;” work with Student Affairs “to create fellowships, funding opps, stipends for undoc student workers (on and off campus); and to find and teach “allies” what these measures could mean for CCSU, according to a followup email on September 26.
Latina says the President’s Committee on Undocumented Students – officially called the Undocumented Student Resources Committee – was formed following the Fifth Circuit Appellate Court’s invalidation of DACA.
“[CCSU President Zulma Toro] recognized the potential negative impact it may have on our students,” Latina wrote. “The committee’s mission is to support DACA, undocumented, and immigrant students to ensure they have the proper resources and guidance to address the unique problems that may arise while earning a degree.”
CCSU has no idea how many undocumented students they may have, as students are not required to disclose that information, but their legal citizenship status can create unique problems for finishing their degree and obtaining work – like passing a background check or participating in paid internships that require a social security number.
Connecticut’s three other state universities and the University of Connecticut all have similar task forces set up to support undocumented students. While DACA students have greater accessibility to employment, DACA itself has remained in a legal gray area – occasionally shot down by courts, reinstated by executive order, and undergoing new iterations.
DACA is currently “in a holding pattern due to ongoing lawsuits in federal court,” but those currently covered under DACA are still able to maintain their status and work, according to ILRC.
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Great article to keep everyone informed. Why don’t they work on helping them get documented? Is that against their principles?
Making an end run around the law, all of them who are involved in these crimes should be dismissed from their positions and prosecuted. Take care of our citizen first, apply for citizen ship like everyone else.
It’s a stretch to accept that CCSUhas no idea how many students that are under-documented or undocumented attend the school. Are resources provided without information about status? Then how do they know who needs the assistance and how much? CCSU is trying to pull the wool over our eyes.