Expansion of Emergency Educational Funds for All Students Regardless of Immigration Status by Biden Administration Welcomed by Coalition of College and University Presidents

EXPANSION OF EMERGENCY EDUCATIONAL FUNDS FOR ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS BY BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WELCOMED BY COALITION OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2021
Contact: Jose Magaña-Salgado (jose@presidentsalliance.org) 

Washington, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced a new distribution of $36B dollars in higher education emergency relief funds under the American Rescue Plan along with updated FAQs (see Q.8) that make clear that “all students who are or were enrolled in an institution of higher education during the COVID-19 national emergency are eligible for emergency financial grants from the HEERF” regardless of their immigration status, including DACA recipients, other undocumented students, and international students. The updated FAQs reflect the Department’s new final rule on student eligibility that reverses the previous policy. The Presidents’ Alliance issued the following statement in response.

Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director of the Presidents’ Alliance, stated: “The Department of Education’s updated guidance that expands eligibility for the HEERF financial aid grants to all students regardless of immigration status is very welcomed news. We extend our deep thanks to Secretary Cardona and the Biden Harris administration for fulfilling the intent of Congress by making these emergency relief funds available to all students in need, regardless of their immigration status. Both Congress and courts across the nation had already spoken clearly–emergency relief funds, passed through various pieces of COVID-19 relief legislation, are meant for all students with need. The previous administration’s efforts to limit the availability of these funds was wrongheaded, counterproductive, and represented an abdication of responsibility to immigrant and international students enrolled in higher education and contributing to their campuses and communities. With 427k undocumented immigrants enrolled in higher education, including 181k DACA-eligible students, these funds are especially critical to ensuring that undocumented immigrant students can thrive and graduate at our nation’s campuses.

Previously, the Presidents’ Alliance submitted a comprehensive comment letter on why these emergency funds legally must be made available for all students.

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The non-partisan, 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 immigration policies and practices at the federal, state, and campus level 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 500 presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over five million students in 43 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.