ISSUES

The pandemic disrupted ‘dreamers.’ Can Biden’s spending bill get them back on track?


 

On part of the Build Back Better Act holds out hope for undocumented students, but the financial aid provision has its limitations. It would cover fewer than half of the 427,000 undocumented students in higher education, according to an analysis of census data by New American Economy, an immigration research and advocacy organization. Eligibility would extend only to DACA recipients and students granted legal residence through the temporary protected status or deferred enforced departure immigration programs.

“It’s a crucial first step … but it’s clearly not enough,” said Miriam Feldblum, executive director of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a group of college leaders that advocates on immigration issues. “The goal needs to be the expansion of financial aid to all undocumented students. They should be treated as other domestic students, students who have grown up here, who have been educated here, who want to contribute to the future workforce.”

Read the full article on the Washington Post here