John, 

We’ve got some news: Betsy DeVos implemented a new rule that discriminates against undocumented college students.

Because of the pandemic and its economic impact, Congress passed the CARES Act in March. Part of the CARES Act provided emergency funds for college students. The law included over $6 billion that was intended to be used by all students, including undocumented students, for everything from child care to food, housing, health care, tuition, and school supplies.

But then Betsy DeVos directed the Education Department to implement a new rule, which went into effect on June 17, that explicitly excludes undocumented students from recieving this much-needed aid. 

A rule like this from the Trump administration's secretary of education is unfortunately not unexpected, but it is a slap in the face.

So many are already struggling due to the pandemic. So many are hurting and protesting daily to demand justice and an end to systemic racism.

Undocumented students already face enormous barriers just trying to make ends meet—and undocumented students who identify as Latinx or Black are more likely to simultaneously be impacted by the racial wealth gap, skyrocketing unemployment, and state-sanctioned violence.

Undocumented students and DACA recipients, who are ineligible for federal and sometimes state financial aid, are often already paying out-of-state tuition in their home states, and struggling to afford higher education. 

What makes this discriminatory rule even more egregious is that these students pay the federal taxes that contribute to making CARES Act funding possible.

Congress did not intend for any students to be excluded, but DeVos once again chose to use her own prejudices to guide her policy.

Help us TAKE ACTION.

Tell DeVos and her Department that you OPPOSE her new rule targeting undocumented students.

Step one: send DeVos your feedback.

Step two: send this to 5 friends.

Ella Azoulay
Program Coordinator
Generation Progress