Over 400,000 Unauthorized Aliens Attend US Colleges

In the United States, more than 408,000 college students without legal permission to be in the country are enrolled as undergraduates, accounting for 1.9 percent of all college students nationwide. The American Immigration Council and the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education recently published an updated report on this population of students.

It revealed that there was a 4.2 percent decrease from 2019 when 427,000 undocumented students were enrolled. This drop is likely due to factors related to the pandemic and economic pressures as well as issues specific to undocumented individuals.

The majority of these immigrants arrived in the U.S. as children or teenagers and are often referred to as Dreamers; those who came as adults have lived in the U.S for an average of eight years according to the report.

These immigrant students have diverse racial backgrounds with 46% being Hispanic, 27% AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander), close to 14% Black, and 10% white respectively according to statistics provided by the report. Most undocumented college students attend public two-year or four-year colleges/universities with California, Texas and New York having highest populations among them respectively according to Inside Higher Ed – a news outlet which reported on how state policy aids these immigrants who are ineligible for financial aid benefits such as federal grants or student loans etc..

Texas became first state in 2001 offering in-state tuition along with some financial aid provisions like high school diploma from a Texas school through nonresidency requirements for this group of people despite its conservative make-up – challenges against this program have largely been unsuccessful so far according to Inside Higher Ed’s report which also highlighted University Of North Texas’ policy of charging higher tuition rates for out-of-state students than unauthorized Texans thus making it difficult for them access higher education opportunities within their own states especially where limited resources are available due lack of federal support amidst ever-increasing costs associated with higher learning institutions across the US today.

According to a report in College Fix:

Texas is among states offering in-state tuition, some aid to immigrants here illegally

More than 408,000 students without legal permission to be in the country are enrolled as undergraduates in United States colleges and universities, comprising 1.9 percent of all college students nationwide.

The American Immigration Council and the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education presented the numbers in a report updated this month.

“This estimate represents a decrease of 4.2 percent from 2019, when 427,000 undocumented students were enrolled,” according to the report. “The drop likely reflects overall enrollment decline due to the pandemic and economic pressures, as well as factors that specifically impact undocumented individuals.”

The “vast majority” of these immigrants, accounting for three out of four, arrived in the U.S. as children or teenagers, according to the report. “These students, commonly known as Dreamers, have grown up in American neighborhoods and attended American schools.”

Inside Higher Ed reported on how some state policy aids these immigrants, who are ineligible for financial aid.

Texas in 2001 “became the first state to offer in-state tuition and some financial aid to that group through nonresidency requirements, such as having a high school diploma from a Texas school,” according to the news outlet. “Legal challenges to the state’s programs have largely been unsuccessful, despite its conservative make-up.”

“Recently, an appeals court upheld a policy at the University of North Texas which charges higher tuition for out-of-state students than that paid by unauthorized Texans.”