Presidents’ Alliance Steering Committee Letter in Support of Pell and Section 505 Repeal in Dream and Promise Act

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

House Committee on the Judiciary
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

they are “pursu[ing] education opportunities that [they] previously could not.”^[3] Moreover, limiting access to Pell Grants will likely establish additional barriers to H.R. 6’s stated goal to legalize Dreamers as such restrictions would stunt applicants’ ability to work and generate the financial resources to pay for application fees, legal representation, and other ancillary costs.

Under H.R. 6, CPRs are treated as lawful permanent residents for all purposes but naturalization. Consequently, to be eligible for federal financial assistance, including Pell Grants, the bill merely need not restrict CPR holders from Pell Grant access. We ask that you oppose legislative language that would explicitly exclude Pell Grant eligibility for CPRs. In addition, we ask that you continue to ensure CPRs are treated as lawful permanent residents for all purposes, except naturalization. Therefore, under existing law, CPRs would already be eligible for all forms of federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, without the need for affirmative, enabling language.

Section 505. Repeal of Section 505, included in virtually every version of the Dream Act ever introduced, would rescind the section of IIRIRA that restricts the ability of states to offer in-state tuition for undocumented immigrant students based on residency. Repeal of Section 505 would restore the discretion of states and respect their autonomy to establish tailored, state-specific strategies to foster access to higher education. It is our understanding that the repeal of Section 505 was, for procedurally reasons, temporarily removed from H.R. 6. We strongly urge you to ensure that the repeal of Section 505 is restored through the Rules Committee or any other procedural mechanism you deem appropriate.

Importantly, neither the bipartisan Dream Act of 2019 (introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)) nor last Congress’ the Recognizing America’s Children Act (cosponsored by over 30 Republicans) restrict access to Pell Grants or fail to rescind Section 505.^[4] For H.R. 6 to be the forward-leaning, inspiring legislation that fulfills your promise to Dreamers and the immigrant community, it too should allow for access to Pell Grants and repeal Section 505.

Our nonpartisan Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration is now over 430 presidents strong. Together we enroll over four million students across 41 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. We have been deeply heartened by the bipartisan support we have heard expressed for DACA and Dreamers by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and especially by the breadth of relief provided to Dreamers in H.R. 6. Now is time to come together and pass this vital legislation.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. If you have any questions, please contact Jose Magaña-Salgado at jose@presidentsimmigrationalliance.org.

José Luis Cruz
President
Lehman College – CUNY

Mark Erickson
President
Northampton Community College

Elsa M. Núñez
President
Eastern CT State University