Where to Find Work

The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) maintains a lengthy list of community service agencies serving immigrants. The City of Chicago also has information about college access for undocumented students.

The Illinois Dream Fund is a kind of college scholarship fund for undocumented immigrants who are ineligible to apply for federal financial aid. The fund is for high school seniors who intend to enroll and current undergraduates enrolled at accredited two- or four-year colleges who can apply for the Illinois Dream Fund scholarships. 

All applicants need to have attended school in Illinois for a minimum of three years before graduating or receiving a GED, need to have at least one parent who immigrated to the United States, and must have lived with either a parent or guardian while going to school in Illinois.

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Dream Fund Scholarship is another talent and need-based, last-dollar scholarship that assists academically talented undocumented CPS students who are pursuing post-secondary educations. Students need to be recommended by principals, counselors, or college and career coaches and also must have a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 and a minimum ACT score of 17.

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that helps refugees and other immigrants find employment in the United States. World Relief partners with a network of employers who value the experiences of immigrants, and clients seeking a job through World Relief earn an average wage 184 percent above the federal minimum wage.