On November 22, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) released, for the first time ever, an Executive Office Memorandum encouraging students of mixed-status families to complete the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) as opposed to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Mixed-status families refer to students who are U.S. citizens or “green card holders” and whose parents are undocumented. CSAC is cautioning families as they begin college applications in light of Donald Trump’s rhetoric around mass deportations of undocumented immigrants when he becomes president in January.
Following CSAC’s memo, CUHSD sent a message to the district teachers and staff on Dec. 10, although the memo was dated Dec. 5. Within this message they relaid the information in CSAC’s memorandum, warning students that “information shared through the FAFSA application does not have the same data privacy assurances as it has in the past.” They also include that the California Dream Act Application will remain accessible to students and families of mixed immigration status.
A senior whose parents are undocumented expressed that they felt like Trump’s mass deportation could happen, “but then again, it might be the same thing, where last time when he was in office, he was talking about all sorts of plans about deportation, but never seem to actually make it happen.”
The student explains when they found out about the caution they, “had that immediate sense of worry and urgency about it, to immediately tell my parents… telling them maybe we shouldn’t go into the FAFSA. Maybe we should go into the California Dream Act, and I’ll just get the money from there. But they came back at me saying that I should still do the FAFSA. I should focus more on my future and get more benefits for me, since I have more of a future ahead of me than they do.”
Despite their parents not being worried, the student is still slightly concerned, but plans to go on with the FAFSA application. However, the student feels “more confident in doing [the FAFSA] from talking with [my parents] … it’s just a straightforward point of what my parents want from me. They want me to get a good education. They want me to get as much money as I can for college and just see me grow.”
CSAC’s and the district’s caution stems from Donald Trump’s statements about his immigration and deportation plans for his presidency starting in 2025.
According to the NBC news article by Allen Smith, “Trump aims to end birthright citizenship, says American citizens with family here illegally may be deported.” Trump “also said he will move to end birthright citizenship … which would strip rights from those born in the country to undocumented parents.”
When Trump was asked about his thoughts on deportation for mixed immigration status families in an interview with NBC, “Meet the Press”, he said that it depends on the family. “If they come here illegally, but [if] their family is here legally, then the family has a choice. The person that came in illegally can go out, or they can all go out together.”
Additionally, a Trump Administration member, Tom Homan, former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will be acting as “border czar” in 2025. As a “czar” Homan will operate as a high-level executive official in charge of Trump’s deportation policy while avoiding Senate authorization to be in his position.
At the National Conservatism Conference earlier this year, Homan said when “Trump comes back in January, I’ll be on his heels coming back, and I will run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen. They ain’t seen s*** yet. Wait until 2025.”
“Now, I’m going to say if you’re in the country illegally, you shouldn’t feel comfortable, absolutely not. I won’t feel comfortable.” Homan says in a Fox News’ “Hannity” program interview on deportation plans on Nov. 11.
These sentiments by Trump and his administration are what has caused the state of California, a sanctuary state, to promote the CADAA for students of mixed immigration status as of last year. California residents must complete either a FAFSA or CADAA application if they plan to attend higher education.
Dulce Cajero, Del Mar’s College and Career Counselor explained, “Based on the information provided by CSAC and NCAN (National College Attainment Network), for students who have an SSN (social security number) but parents do not, if they fill out FAFSA their information is not guaranteed to be protected. At this time we are unsure if the new administration will use information from the Department of Education as part of their Deportation plans. Essentially these groups are being put at risk.”
Cajero shares that she is “Very worried about the future of all of our students. There are laws such as FERPA [Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act] that are designed to protect sensitive information. We want to make sure all students and families are well-informed about the information being shared with the Federal government.”
Jesus Del Real, San Jose City College’s Financial Aid Outreach Specialist, was present at Del Mar’s Cash for College Night. Where students and their families received guidance on filling out financial aid forms, along with other financial aid specialists.
Del Real says that even before CSAC’s memo was published he and his financial aid team had been in contact with several other California colleges to come to a general alignment on how to inform families as they apply for financial aid. He explains every mixed-status family has very different situations, and their uniqueness must be considered.
Del Real and his team do not tell families what to do when applying for financial aid but give them information to make the best informed decision for themselves. He also highlights that the risks mentioned are just speculation and they cannot say for certain they will come to be.
He says that as not-undocumented person himself, and whose parents are now documented, he believes it’s not right to tell families what to do. He states that he needs to check the privilege he holds and cannot advise based on his experiences because he is not the students or their families.
Another senior whose family has mixed immigration status believes this may impact “A lot of other students, especially because we have to live with the fear … that the Trump administration will go through with the mass deportation plan.”
The student explains that while their parents still want them and their siblings to go through with FAFSA they “definitely don’t want to do it, I don’t want to take the risk…Like it’s sort of [a] stressing situation where I don’t want to do it, but my parents are making me do it because it’s a thing that will benefit me.” They continue, “It’s really [for the] greater good [for] me, but it’s not for the greater good of my dad… or mom.”
The student adds, “I know this might be a hard conversation with your kids.. about the risk of doing [the FAFSA] or not doing it. [The] kids and parents [should] really think about the future and see what type of consequences that it might have on them.” They say, “And if the parents are willing to sacrifice something for their kids, or the kids [are] ready to sacrifice something for their parents, then I feel like it doesn’t really matter what they choose… don’t let fear make your decisions for you.”
The Dispatch will continue reporting on this story as it develops.
