Some students are unsure if they should put all of their information on their FAFSA applications, knowing that things can take a left turn. Photo by Andre Hunter via Unsplash.
Under President Donald Trump, the recent mass deportations happening around the country have been impacting students and their decisions concerning college applications. Graduating seniors who are applying to college are now facing concerns on how much of their personal information to share with government agencies. This is especially true for students whose parents are not citizens of the United states.
FAFSA is one of the documents that students are facing challenges with, with some graduating seniors hesitant to put their parental information in the forms.
But what exactly is FAFSA? FAFSA stands for “Free Application for Federal Student Aid.” This application helps determine a student’s eligibility for federal financial aid. The information needed on this application has to do with parent income. For students whose parents are not documented citizens, there are concerns as to whether or not FAFSA can leak that information to the current administration, alerting ICE.
However, students who don’t have citizenship can’t apply for federal aid. They can, however, still apply for state aid, like for New York; students could apply for the “Dream Act,” which gives undocumented students access to financial aid within New York State.
But the question still remains for many students, “How can I know that FAFSA won’t release any information regarding my immigration status or my parent’s immigration status?” According to FAFSA, they only provide information you have given them to give to colleges. Only colleges can have access to your personal information to get a better idea of your financial situation at home. This is to determine how much aid you need for your college tuition.
Recently, organizations have looked into whether or not students should continue to feel comfortable submitting their information through FAFSA. Although agencies say that they do not share this information with other places, there is no guarantee. Some people who work for various government aid offices state they cannot be sure what will be shared.
However, NerdWallet urges students whose parents do not have a social security number that they should still apply to FAFSA to see if they are eligible for financial aid. Instead of using their social security number for verification, however, they may need other forms of documentation to showcase their identity. They also state, “By law, federal agencies cannot use information your parent(s) or spouse enters on the FAFSA for any immigration or enforcement actions.”
Fortunately, there are alternatives for students if they are unsure about filing for FAFSA. There are a lot of nonprofit organizations like TheDream.US, a nonprofit that offers scholarships to undocumented students seeking higher education, National Immigration Law Center provides legal advocacy and resources for immigrants, and First Gen Empower is a nonprofit that helps first-generation, low-income, undocumented students by strengthening their support systems.
Getting more information about which aid you can apply for is critical, and you should receive the proper information as soon as possible. That is why it is highly recommended that you speak with your college counselor about any federal or state aid, starting as early as junior year.
Ms. Corporan, a college guidance counselor at Cardozo, expressed, “Sometimes little hiccups come up while you’re applying, such as you didn’t receive a confirmation that you applied for aid or maybe issues with parent’s accounts. But staying in touch with your college counselor is really your best bet.”
For those who are concerned about the changes in administration and the concerns around ICE, college counselor Mr. Bonacorsi said, “My advice to students moving ahead is to contact immigration lawyers. There are numerous charitable organizations that are eager to assist students with anything.”
Routine checkups with your college counselor are beneficial to all students. Not only can they keep you on top of your timeline from high school to college, but they can help to showcase information you may not know prior to meeting with them. Applying for college can be difficult, especially for those who have parents who did not go through the process themselves. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.