NASFAA Endorses Protecting Student Privacy Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Allie Arcese
Sr. Director, Strategic Communications
[email protected]
WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 3, 2026 — House Democrats on Wednesday unveiled legislation that would prohibit personally identifiable information collected by the FAFSA from being used for immigration enforcement.
The Protecting Student Privacy Act, introduced by Rep. Emily Randall (D-Wash.) and sponsored by Reps. Greg Casar (D-Texas) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), would specifically prohibit any federal agency that has immigration enforcement authority, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), or a state or local agency that has an agreement with DHS, from accessing personally identifiable information collected through the FAFSA for purposes of immigration enforcement.
Karen McCarthy, NASFAA Vice President of Public Policy and Federal Relations, released the following statement:
“Students and families should never have to choose between pursuing higher education and protecting their privacy and personal information. The FAFSA exists to help students access financial aid and achieve their educational goals — not to serve as a tool for immigration enforcement.
NASFAA is proud to support the Protecting Student Privacy Act because it reinforces a fundamental principle: sensitive financial aid information should only be used for its intended purpose. Strengthening these protections is essential to ensuring that all students feel confident and secure when applying for the aid they need."
NASFAA policy experts are available to speak to members of the media about the Protecting Student Privacy Act . To set up an interview, please email [email protected].
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About NASFAA
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 29,000 financial aid professionals at approximately 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every 10 undergraduates in the U.S. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators.
Publication Date: 6/3/2026