Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Undocumented Student Support

No. NIU cannot prohibit federal immigration enforcement officers from coming on campus to enforce federal law. However, you must alert Dr. Matt Streb, Chief University Strategist (815-753-7070, mstreb@niu.edu) that an immigration enforcement officer is present on campus.

NIU is required to provide access for federal immigration officers to a restricted-access building if the officer(s) provide a valid judicial warrant.

• If the immigration enforcement officer has a valid judicial warrant, then the answer is yes.
• If the officer does not have a valid judicial warrant, then the answer is no.

Step 1: Ask the officer for their name, identification number and agency affiliation.

Step 2: Inform the officer that you are not obstructing their process but must consult university administration. Contact Dr. Matt Streb, Chief University Strategist (815-753-7070, mstreb@niu.edu) and he and others will help determine the appropriate next steps.

No. As an NIU employee, per federal privacy laws, you must maintain the confidentiality of personal and personally identifiable information, including student records.

• The university generally requires immigration enforcement officers to produce a valid subpoena authorizing the disclosure of such records.
• Federal officers typically have no greater access to university records than any member of the public unless they present a valid subpoena.
• Guidelines about the confidentiality of student records can be found on the Registration and Records website.

If you are asked for student personal information by an individual who identified themselves as a federal immigration officer, regardless of whether they present a subpoena, inform the officer that you need to contact university administration and immediately contact Dr. Matt Streb, Chief University Strategist (815-753-7070, mstreb@niu.edu) for further guidance.

Generally, ICE can only require you to allow entry to these spaces with a specific type of warrant. Should this occur, follow the instructions above in #2.

No. NIU cannot prohibit federal immigration enforcement officers from coming on campus to enforce federal law. However, you must alert Dr. Matt Streb, Chief University Strategist (815-753-7070, mstreb@niu.edu), that an immigration enforcement officer is present on campus.

It depends. If the immigration enforcement officer has a certain kind of warrant, then the answer is yes. But, if the immigration enforcement officer does not have that kind of warrant, the answer is no. Please follow the steps below:

Step 1: Ask the officer for their name and agency affiliation.

Step 2: Inform the officer that you are not obstructing their process but must consult university administration. Contact Dr. Matt Streb, Chief University Strategist (815-753-7070, mstreb@niu.edu).

Generally, yes. A residential hall room is considered a limited access area and cannot be legally accessed by immigration enforcement officers without a valid criminal warrant or the voluntary consent of the occupant. A student generally need not allow entry to any law enforcement officer who is not in possession of a criminal warrant, regardless of what that officer might say.

Personally identifiable educational and university health records are protected by various privacy laws, including the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA). As a university employee, you must maintain the confidentiality of these records. If you receive a request for personally identifiable information or documents, or if a federal immigration enforcement officer gives you a warrant or subpoena seeking such records, before providing any information, you should confirm that you are authorized to provide access to the specified records or information. Ask the officer for their name, and agency affiliation; ask for a copy of any warrant or subpoena presented; inform the officer that you are not obstructing their process but need to contact Dr. Matt Streb, Chief University Strategist (815-753-7070, mstreb@niu.edu) to properly assist.

Leave the paper application blank and proceed as directed.

On the online application complete the citizenship portion as it best describes your current immigration status. Then proceed to answer the Non-citizen Status prompts.

Be advised that you will need to meet the criteria under HB 60 for in state tuition for undocumented students.

Leave the paper application blank and proceed as directed.

On the online application complete the citizenship portion as it best describes your current immigration status. Then proceed to answer the Non-citizen Status prompts.

Be advised that you will need to meet the criteria under HB 60 for in state tuition for undocumented students.

Please view the legislation here: Public Act 93-0007.

No.

Undocumented students are eligible for scholarships as long as they meet the scholarship criteria.  Many NIU scholarships are awarded based only on academic merit or talent. NIU scholarships can be identified by utilizing the MyScholarships tool.

In addition, there are many private organizations that award scholarships based upon a variety of criteria. Refer to this list of undocumented-friendly resources.

DACA recipients should educate themselves and explore alternatives to employment in the case DACA expires. These options include:

• Exploring the feasibility of transitioning their current position to an independent contractor position
• Starting a small business, and/or operating as independent contractor generally.

These options do not require an employment authorization document. For more information on these options, check out Immigrants Rising resources on Working for Yourself and 5 Tips to Get Started as an Independent Contractor.

• Please visit the Financing Your Education page of this website to learn for more information about funding options for NIU Huskies.
• Contact Sandy López at slopez1@niu.edu for more opportunities of engagement and cost savings tips.

• REAL ID is a federal law that requires states to verify the citizenship or immigration status of their residents before issuing driver’s license or identification for certain federal purposes.
• On May 7, 2025, non-REAL ID forms of identification will no longer be accepted at federal buildings or for domestic flights.
• As always, documents issued by foreign governments, such as passports and the Mexican Matricula, are acceptable forms of identification to fly on domestic flights and will remain so.
• REAL ID-compliant identification cannot be issued to undocumented immigrants but can be issued to DACA recipients. These REAL ID identification cards expire at the same time a DACA recipient’s deferred action expires and must be renewed once an individual successfully obtains their DACA renewal. For more information regarding REAL ID, please see National Immigration Law Center resources, The REAL ID Act: Questions and Answers and Basic Facts About REAL ID.
• Illinois issues temporary visitor’s driver’s license (TVDL) for undocumented immigrants. Temporary visitor’s licenses are for driver’s ineligible for Social Security number who do not have proof of authorized presence. Applicants must present an unexpired passport or consular ID. TVDLs are not REAL ID complaint.