There were no programs in our area dedicated to immigrant youth issues. One hundred six non-English speaking, unaccompanied minors enrolled at a local high school with zero computer literacy and a sixth grade education level. Youth were going into state custody when a parent was seized or deported, and youth without passports couldn’t accompany their parents. They had a 16% graduation rate and issues finding where to complete required volunteer hours, and advisors weren’t trained to assist immigrant students on how to apply for college.

We visited the new arrival and senior ESL classrooms to speak on topics such as passports, family plans, civic engagement and how to find college funding regardless of status. We hosted an after-school computer literacy/college assistance club, held family plan/passports clinics, formed an undocumented scholarships list and accepted senior student volunteers regardless of any language barrier. We educated community organizations and are now marked as a safe space to assist teens in the event their parent is detained.

We have a more educated and compassionate community. We are closing the digital equity gap with our after-school club. Youth have a trusted Library Teen department, and families have a plan in place in the event they are detained/deported causing less youth to go into state custody. We average 31 passports a month issued to youth with immigrant parents. Seniors completed 240 volunteer hours, applied for more scholarships and had an increased graduation rate of 30%. More immigrant families are utilizing library services.