By: Delilah Alvarado

 

A stimulus bill, otherwise known as the CARES Act, was passed in order to provide aid for citizens during the pandemic. This aid was disbursed to citizens in a one-time check of $1,200. Certain requirements were established in order to qualify for the stimulus check, leaving a certain population without aid. 

​

While a chunk of the population is without aid, including college students and young adults, another portion of that population is being hit the hardest: DACA students and immigrant families. The act leaves out those without a social security card, eligible work visas or green cards.  

 

According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2016 undocumented immigrants made up 3.4% of the country's total population. In college enrollment as of 2018, there are about 454,000 undocumented students and 216,000 DACA-eligible students based on a report by The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.

 

Texas A&M student Vanessa Hidalgo is one of the many DACA students that does not qualify for the stimulus check. She is an international studies major who worked on campus at a student center while living in an off-campus apartment with roommates. She has since had to move back in with her parents in Fairfield, Texas.  

 

“A lot of college students work to support themselves so not getting that was devastating,” Hidalgo said. “For me it was like my sisters and I don’t qualify for aid, even though we are taxpayers, and my parents, who are taxpayers as well, don’t qualify either because of their immigration status.”  

 

And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019 the labor force was composed of 17.4% of foreign-born adults. This would mean that a portion of the labor force that still pays taxes will not receive benefits.

 

Student Community of Progressive Empowerment (SCOPE) at Texas State serves undocumented students by monitoring any aid services for these students. Secretary and PR Chair for SCOPE, Cal Iven has been following developments about rent freezes, emergency funds and other resources to ease any financial hardships.

 

“It’s definitely messed up (immigrants won’t get the stimulus), especially considering that undocumented people still pay millions of dollars in taxes per year and add billions of dollars to the U.S. economy in sectors like agriculture and food service,” Iven said. “Despite how much they give to the economy, they’re receiving practically no help from the government in a time when they are some of the most vulnerable populations.”   

 

Now many undocumented students are without a job, forced to move back home and left with an uncertain future about receiving aid.  

 

“I think that the U.S. isn't handling the situation fairly, because they are intentionally overlooking vulnerable populations,” Hidalgo said. “That includes the undocumented community and college students, among others I'm sure.” 

 

As of September 2019 there were about 107,730 DACA recipients in Texas alone, according to the Migration Policy Institute. DACA recipients are able to file for unemployment in Texas if they did not receive a stimulus check. But eligibility requirements still include legal residency and a valid work permit, which can exclude other immigrants.

 

“My family and I are doing good, but I know there are a lot of other undocumented people and DACA recipients that aren’t, and that’s what sucks,” Hidalgo said.  

 

With different tuition rates and other out-of-pocket costs, DACA students can be left with more financial hardship than their peers. DACA students are not able to file for financial aid through FAFSA, and may not be eligible for in-state tuition, leaving students to search for other local or independent resources for aid. There is also the fact that DACA recipients must reapply for their status every two years at a cost of $495.  

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Based on what university a student attends, the cost of attendance might be higher with fewer resources available for students of color, as seen in the bar chart above made with Tableau and information across different universities.   

 

Texas State University is one Hispanic Serving Institution in Texas. Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) are institutions that have at least over 25% enrollment of full-time Hispanic students. Being a Hispanic Serving Institution, means the university will be given grants and financial aid to serve the students. This is important when considering in a 2017 Pew research article, about 94% of DACA recipients at the time were born in Mexico, Central or South America as shown in a custom bubble chart made in Tableau using the data from the Pew Research Center.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many universities in Texas are on the cusp of being Hispanic serving, but still do not qualify based on enrollment. This leaves many initiatives to help minority students to be led by the students themselves. Hidalgo, who attends A&M University, is aware of only one resource on campus for the Hispanic community.  

 

“The only resource I can think of is an on-campus organization called the Council for Minority Student Affairs (CMSA),” Hidalgo said. “As far as resources straight from the university no I can’t think of any.”  

 

Texas State on the other hand has a growing Hispanic population and has provided the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion (SDI) that features many organizations such as Student Community of Progressive Empowerment (SCOPE) and other resources for students of color and DACA.

 

Because of the pandemic, The Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion has been working more closely with students. While the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion does not directly deal with financial aid, they are trying to provide other local resources that might help students. Assistant Director for Hispanic and First-Generation Student Retention Toni Moreno noticed a higher need for aid in students at Texas State University.

 

“I noticed I needed to reach out to students,” Moreno said. “Both DACA and non-DACA have found they do not qualify for stimulus support (some students because their parents claim them). It is apparent that there is a high level of financial need from our students, both to pay for bills right now and planning for how to pay for classes this summer and upcoming fall.”  

 

Texas State recently passed a financial assistance program called Bobcat Cares. This will give $30 million in relief to Texas State students affected by COVID-19 and who need assistance with the cost of college and other expenses. However, this might not include DACA students when asked about it in an interview with University President Denise Trauth where she stated she did not want to make any statements that seem conclusive.   

 

For now it is unclear whether the Bobcat Cares will help DACA students. Meaning these students have to keep looking for other forms of assistance.  

 

“For students who are struggling and looking for resources, look for opportunities within your community such as food banks, rent strike organizers and this list of resources from My Undocumented Life,” Ivan said.  

 

Immigrants’ rights activists and DACA students are continuing to protest and push for some relief from the government and other institutions. For now, students can look to the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion and Student Community of Progressive Empowerment for resources. Other local resources and organizations are can be found through Twitter or reaching out to undocumented peers about how to help.