NASFAA Mention: Fear and Confusion Among Immigrant Students

"The California Community Colleges system is trying to ease the concerns of immigrant students worried about the impact of a new immigration rule scheduled to go into effect next month," Inside Higher Ed reports.

"The rule change by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will more closely scrutinize immigrants based on their use of federal public assistance programs, such as food stamps and Medicaid, when they apply for legal immigrant status or renew their Permanent Resident Card, which is commonly referred to as a 'green card.' The so-called 'public charge' rule is designed to deter noncitizens from using, or becoming dependent on, government social assistance programs.

Although it specifically excludes Pell Grants and other forms of educational aid, some critics still consider the rule an attempt by the Trump administration to only allow wealthy or financially better off immigrants to come to live or study in the United States.

The rule was published last month in the Federal Register and is slated to be effective on October 15, 2019. 'The primary benefit of the final rule would be to better ensure that aliens who are admitted to the United States, seek extension of stay or change of status, or apply for adjustment of status will be self-sufficient,' it states.

College administrators and immigrant advocates worry that mixed messaging by the Department of Homeland Security and misinterpretation of the rule could deter immigrants who aren't U.S. citizens from enrolling in college or applying for financial aid. The rule change could also influence low-income immigrant students' willingness to enroll in financial aid programs they need, said Jill Desjean, policy analyst for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

'I would expect that, generally, the number of people applying for federal benefits would go down, and that would include the benefits from the specific school,' Desjean said. 'I wouldn't be surprised if students didn't apply because they saw in media reports that they fell under that broad umbrella of students that this rule would effect.'"

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

 

Publication Date: 9/9/2019

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