Due to President Donald Trump's orders on immigration enforcement, many undocumented students have hesitated to reach out for financial assistance. However, with the help of the campaign for financial aid for these students, the numbers have improved.
It was just recently when it was reported that the applications for Dream Act financial aid went down by 40 percent, and that is according to CBS SF Bay Area. That is because the students were having difficulty with navigating the processes, and mostly because of their fear about the future of DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
Lupita Cortez Alcala, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission, said that it is important that these students get the help they need not only to help the country, but for them to have a better future wherever they may be.
Three weeks ago, the total applications only reached 60 percent of what they had been during the same time last year, according to 89.3KPCC. But a final tally was counted after the final deadline, and surprisingly, the number of renewed applications reached 2,000 higher than last year, though the number of new application was a little bit lower.
Alcala said that the reason why undocumented student felt scared to reach out for financial assistance is because they fear that the information would be used to target them. But they were proud that these students, as well as their families took the courage.
The state education officials, legislators, college and universities would like to get a message across and want to make it clear that California will make sure that the data from the undocumented students will be protected from federal immigration authorities.
Dominguez Hills, the California State University spokeswoman said that they have put up posters and have sent emails to announce the deadline for the state financial aid application which was March 2. She said that their intention was to let students know that their immigration status does not have a bearing in their ability to receive an education in LBCC.
