July 21, 2023
Universities Shouldn’t Forget About Undocumented Students
By Peter Lucas
Many colleges ignored the undocumented community once President Biden took office, but CUNY’s new efforts show how higher education can better support these students.
A student exits a building on the campus of Hunter College of the City University of New York. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images)
or Krissia Bonilla, going to college was much more difficult than it was for her peers. As she was protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, she wasn’t sure how to apply. The guidelines weren’t clear, and even the staff at her school were confused. “My high school counselor didn’t know what to do.”
More than 427,000 undocumented students are enrolled in postsecondary education, representing about two percent of all college students. Undocumented students are ineligible for federal financial aid: They cannot access Pell Grants, student loans, or federal work study. Only 23 states offer undocumented students access to in-state tuition. Just 17 states, including New York, offer state-funded financial aid for undocumented students, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.
Unsure of the relevant laws, Bonilla began asking outside organizations for help. Bonilla eventually found a nonprofit called The Door, which offers services to young people in New York City from mental health counseling and crisis assistance to college prep and career development. With The Door’s help, she applied to the City University of New York. CUNY spans 25 campuses across the city’s five boroughs and serves 275,000 degree-seeking students. “As the nation’s largest urban public university system, CUNY is dedicated to educating and advocating for the immigrant students and families who make up the lifeblood of our city and state.”
