College still a dream for young undocumented immigrants

The reason could be due to restrictions for making applications for private scholarships or loans.

College might be elusive for young immigrants—With majority of schools setting up own norms for undocumented immigrants in the US, many youngsters may find difficulties in pursuing their college studies. However, this policy may not solve their problem of getting admissions in US colleges.

Consider, for example, the case of an undocumented immigrant hailing from Mexico, Araceli Cortes. She was brought by her parents as a kid. She is passionate to become a doctor but with problems in getting admission in a US college, she might have to go back to Mexico.

Although, like many other undocumented immigrants in the US, Cortes is happy to hear the news of deferred deportation scheme, but, she feels its only a temporary relief for a period of just two years.

The policy will give a US work permit only for two years period, complains 20-year-old Cortes.

Cost—undocumented immigrants’ biggest challenge for college studies—One of the main hurdles for young undocumented aspirants wanting to join a college will be the cost of college studies. Since, they don’t have US citizenship a US Green Card; they are not eligible to get student grants or student loans.

So, higher education might still remain a dream for majority of such young undocumented ‘Dreamers’, feels vice president and co-founder of policy and research of Excelencia in Education, Deborah Santiago. This is a big blow to their dreams and aspirations.

According to figures by National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, there has been around 439 percent increase in the fees and tuition between the years 1982 and 2007 while the median family income witnessed a rise of just 147 percent.

So, in such a scenario, people have to depend on student grants, scholarships and student loans to get higher education in the US.

But due to lack legal US immigration status, things are quite difficult for majority of young undocumented immigrants with no hope likely despite the US deportation relief by Barack Obama.

US Deferred Action--The deferred deportation policy launched on 15th August this year is being welcomed as a rare opportunity for thousands of young undocumented immigrants wanting to live and work in the US legally by getting a temporary US work permit.

It is a policy to provide a chance to avoid getting deported from the US and to gain rights to work in the US legally for two years period.