A New Reality for Undocumented Parents and Their U.S.-Born Children
A few days before winter break, Lynda McGee, a college counselor at Downtown Magnets High School in Los Angeles Unified, got an unexpected visit from a student’s father.
A Father’s Plea
The man, a warehouse worker who emigrated from Guatemala 28 years ago, wanted to make sure that McGee knew his wishes firsthand.
“My daughter going to college is more important than my risk of deportation,” he said in Spanish as the student, a high school senior, translated.
The FAFSA Conundrum
He insisted that McGee help the teen, a U.S.-born citizen, fill out the FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is used by college-bound students to calculate all-important financial aid packages. But the application asks for parents’ Social Security numbers, which the father does not have because he is not a legal resident. A missing number could be a red flag about the father’s immigration status ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to track down and deport undocumented immigrants.
A Growing Concern
“Unfortunately, I have dozens of students in this same situation,” McGee said. “They have to choose between their future and that of their parents.”
Submitting Financial Aid Forms
Submitting financial aid forms this college application season has become a potentially life-altering family decision for California high school seniors with undocumented parents — a predicament also faced by many college students because FAFSA forms generally must be submitted annually to determine ongoing aid.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Department of Education, which administers the FAFSA used to calculate Pell Grants, federal loans and other aid for students, typically does not share immigration status data with other government agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But college counselors and financial aid support groups have recently told students from mixed-status families, many of whom are lower-income and could benefit the most from federal aid, that there’s still risk.
California’s Response
Daisy Gonzales, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission, the state agency responsible for administering financial aid programs, urged caution.
“We cannot speculate on what the incoming federal administration may do,” she said.
A Tracker’s Insights
A tracker from the National College Attainment Network also shows a 9.6% drop in applications through December compared with the same time last academic year. It is unclear how much of that can be attributed to concerns over immigration status disclosure.
A Student’s Dilemma
In California, about 3.3 million people live in mixed-status households, according to USC’s Equity Research Institute. About 1 in 5 are children younger than 18, like the student whose father came to McGee’s office at Downtown Magnets High School.
One of the top pupils in her class, the student lives with her parents in Koreatown and dreams of one day working in the film industry. She’s applied to UCLA, Stanford, Cornell and several Cal State campuses. But she has hit pause on submitting the FAFSA because of fear it could hurt her family.
Conclusion
The anxiety over federal financial aid comes after more than a year of complications involving the FAFSA, which is typically released each October. A shortened version of the 2023-24 FAFSA was supposed to streamline the process but instead gave way to glitches, data entry problems and delays amid mounting frustrations for students and families who had to wait on applying.
FAQs
Q: What is the FAFSA?
A: The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is used by college-bound students to calculate all-important financial aid packages.
Q: Why is the FAFSA a concern for students with undocumented parents?
A: The FAFSA asks for parents’ Social Security numbers, which students with undocumented parents may not have. This could be a red flag about the parents’ immigration status, potentially putting them at risk of deportation.
Q: What is the California Dream Act Application?
A: The California Dream Act Application is available to students from mixed-status families who need aid from the state, such as Cal Grants, to attend the University of California, Cal State and in-state community colleges.
Q: Can students from mixed-status families still apply for federal financial aid?
A: Yes, but there is still risk involved. The Department of Education typically does not share immigration status data with other government agencies, but college counselors and financial aid support groups have recently told students from mixed-status families that there’s still risk.
Q: What should students with undocumented parents do?
A: Students with undocumented parents should consult with college counselors and financial aid support groups to determine the best course of action. They may also want to consider applying for state and federal aid, as well as exploring private scholarships and financial aid options.
