96 National, State, and Local Organizations and Presidents’ Alliance Urge Congress to Expand Title IV in the Higher Education Act to Include Federal Financial Aid Access for DACA and TPS in Reconciliation

96 NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PRESIDENTS’ ALLIANCE URGE CONGRESS TO EXPAND TITLE IV IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT TO INCLUDE FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID ACCESS FOR DACA AND TPS IN RECONCILIATION 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2022
CONTACT: Jose Magaña-Salgado (jose@presidentsalliance.org)

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration sent a letter along with an additional letter signed by 96 local, state, and national organizations to Congress urging lawmakers to expand Title IV of the Higher Education Act to include Federal Financial Aid access for DACA recipients, and DED and TPS holders in the FY 2022 budget reconciliation legislation. Currently, undocumented students do not have access to federal financial aid, and Congress has the unique opportunity through reconciliation to expand federal financial aid access to DACA recipients and DED and TPS holders. Congress is expected to pass the FY 2022 reconciliation bill in the coming weeks.

The expansion of Title IV of the Higher Education Act would allow access to federal loans, Pell Grants and other grants, and work-study-based programs to historically underrepresented students. Access to federal financial aid would help reduce financial barriers to higher education and allow these groups to further their academic and professional careers. With the vote-a-rama expected in a couple of weeks, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration is urging Congress to include the expansion of Title IV of the Higher Education Act in the FY 2022 budget reconciliation legislation. 

Jose Magaña-Salgado, Director of Policy and Communications for the Presidents’ Alliance, stated: “Reconciliation provides the best opportunity for Congress to expand federal financial aid access, including loans, grants, and work-study to DACA and TPS recipients. Access to federal financial aid as part of this package represents both a down payment to the immigrant community for future reforms, but also maintains the stated goals of keeping this legislation narrow and targeted. Personally, as a DACA recipient that graduated from two institutions of higher education with no federal financial aid, I deeply recognize the importance of expanding these vital supports to the DACA and TPS populations.”

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The nonpartisan, nonprofit Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings college and university presidents and chancellors together on the immigration issues that impact higher education, our students, campuses, communities and nation. We work to advance just, forward-looking immigration policies and practices at the federal, state, and campus levels that are consistent with our heritage as a nation of immigrants and the academic values of equity and openness. The Alliance is composed of over 550 presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over five million students in 43 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.