The following are state and national laws or policies that shape the support available for undocumented individuals on campus.
About the status of the DACA program
On January 17, 2025, the Fifth Circuit released a decision finding major portions of the Biden Administration’s DACA rule unlawful and returning the case to district course. In July 2025, the district court determined that only the state of Texas had the right to sue based on demonstrated harm and requested supplemental information. Currently, DACA recipients can renew their applications and USCIS is also accepting new (initial) DACA applications. However, USCIS is not processing initial DACA requests at this time.
Illinois Bivens Act
Illinois House Bill 1312 (Public Act 104-0440) restricts public institutions of higher education from sharing citizenship and immigration status information of students, employees, and anyone associated with students. The bill also requires that public colleges and universities develop and publish procedures for reviewing and authorizing requests from civil immigration enforcement to enter campus. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign procedures can be located here: Immigration Status Privacy and Law Enforcement Interactions Procedures.
HB 60 (aka Acevedo Bill, In-State Tuition Bill):
Illinois House Bill 60 became law in May 2003. Under HB 60, undocumented students are considered Illinois residents to receive in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities as long as they meet certain criteria:
- attended an Illinois school for at least three years prior to graduating or receiving the equivalent of a diploma;
- graduated from an Illinois high school or received the equivalent of a diploma in Illinois;
- resided with parents or guardians while attending an Illinois high school; and
- for those applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S., provided the University with an affidavit stating the applicant will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity the individual is eligible to do so.
For more information about enrolling and in-state tuition, visit the Undergraduate Admissions Resources for Undocumented Students page.
The RISE Act
The Retention of Illinois Students and Equity (RISE) Act was signed into law June 21, 2019 by Governor J.B. Pritzker. The RISE Act makes undocumented students who are Illinois residents eligible for state financial aid and benefits at public institutions in Illinois, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This state aid includes Illinois MAP grants as well as other institutional aid including, but not limited to, scholarships, grants, awards, stipends, room and board assistance, tuition waivers, or other financial or in-kind assistance. Learn more about the Alternative Application for the MAP grant on the Illinois Student Assistance Commission page.
Undocumented Student Liaison and Center Bill
Illinois House Bill 3438 (110 ILCS 305/120), signed into law in September 2021, directs public universities in the state to designate an employee to serve as an Undocumented Student Resource Liaison. The designated employee would be responsible for helping students without documentation to access financial aid and other academic support. A list of Undocumented Student Liaisons at Illinois higher education institutions can be found on the Illinois Board of Higher Education webpage.
IL Dream Act
The Illinois Dream Act was signed into law on August 1, 2011 by Governor Pat Quinn. Illinois is the first state in the United States to create a private scholarship fund for undocumented students, and this law makes scholarships, college savings, and prepaid tuition programs available to undocumented students who graduate from Illinois high schools. It also allowed for the creation of the Illinois Dream Fund and the Illinois Dream Fund Commission who are actively seeking funds to award more scholarships and funding opportunities to undocumented students in Illinois. Learn more on the Illinois Dream Fund page.
Illinois TRUST Act (5 ILCS 805/15)
The TRUST Act clarifies the role that Illinois law enforcement will play when interacting with immigration. This law is intended to strengthen community trust and cooperation by affirming that law enforcement agencies in Illinois are largely prohibited from participating in immigration enforcement. The Illinois TRUST Act states that a “law enforcement agency or official may not participate, support, or assist in any capacity with an immigration agent’s enforcement operations.” For more information, visit the Illinois Attorney General’s Guidance on Immigration Issues and Law Enforcement.