LIMITED ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS Currently, there are no laws prohibiting undocumented students from attending elementary, middle, and high schools in the U.S. On the contrary, their access to free public education through secondary school is protected under the 14th amendment. The ruling of the Supreme Court case Plyer vs. Doe stated that undocumented children were blamed and punished for actions they were not responsible for and that they had right to education (Kim 2012). However, this protection does not extend to higher education. There are no federal legislations that prevent undocumented students from applying to or attending institutions of higher learning though individual colleges may have different
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However, the cost of attending is still forbidding and the majority of scholarships and aid available require permanent residency or citizenship. Smaller scholarships are not sufficient enough in their number and amount to be of significant help (Abrego 2008). Sometimes qualifying students are not given scholarships because of their undocumented status. Gabriel, an undocumented student from Mexico, claims that he was “denied a scholarship because of [his] lack of immigration status.” Similarly, Jackie was offered a full ride to her college of dreams but failed to provide her “papers” to secure the aid. While some students retain their interest in continuing their education, many others lose their motivation during secondary …show more content…
During an interview, Jessica, a nursing student from Columbia, confessed thinking of not going to college and not “even [envisioning her] dream” because her dream was unfeasible anyway due to her undocumented status (Diaz-Strong and Meiners 2007). Undocumented students with older siblings witness their older brothers and siblings suffer and their dreams squelch post-high school. Ernesto was discouraged from excelling in school after seeing his older brother, who earned straight As and even a scholarship during high school, unable to go to college (Abrego 2006). Regrettably, lack of motivation in secondary school has serious consequences including high dropout rate and low academic performance among undocumented students (Potochnick
However, the cost of attending is still forbidding and the majority of scholarships and aid available require permanent residency or citizenship. Smaller scholarships are not sufficient enough in their number and amount to be of significant help (Abrego 2008). Sometimes qualifying students are not given scholarships because of their undocumented status. Gabriel, an undocumented student from Mexico, claims that he was “denied a scholarship because of [his] lack of immigration status.” Similarly, Jackie was offered a full ride to her college of dreams but failed to provide her “papers” to secure the aid. While some students retain their interest in continuing their education, many others lose their motivation during secondary …show more content…
During an interview, Jessica, a nursing student from Columbia, confessed thinking of not going to college and not “even [envisioning her] dream” because her dream was unfeasible anyway due to her undocumented status (Diaz-Strong and Meiners 2007). Undocumented students with older siblings witness their older brothers and siblings suffer and their dreams squelch post-high school. Ernesto was discouraged from excelling in school after seeing his older brother, who earned straight As and even a scholarship during high school, unable to go to college (Abrego 2006). Regrettably, lack of motivation in secondary school has serious consequences including high dropout rate and low academic performance among undocumented students (Potochnick