Students with U.S. citizenship, whose parents are undocumented immigrants, are feeling anxious about submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) due to concerns over potential deportation risks under the incoming Trump administration, which has pledged to crack down on undocumented immigrants.
On January 2, The Los Angeles Times (LAT) reported on the case of a graduating student from Downtown Magnets High School in LA, whose family expressed fears of deportation but remained determined to apply for financial aid. The student’s father, who immigrated from Guatemala 28 years ago, told the newspaper, ““My daughter going to college is more important than my risk of deportation.”
FAFSA requires applicants to provide their parents’ Social Security numbers (SSN). Since undocumented parents do not have SSNs, they are instructed to enter “0000” on the form. Critics argue that this process indirectly reveals their undocumented status, increasing the risk of deportation.
Despite understanding the risks, the father asked the school’s counselor for assistance in completing his daughter’s FAFSA application. His daughter, who lives in Koreatown and has applied to UCLA, Stanford, and other universities, expressed frustration, saying, “Why does Trump getting elected mean I might have to suffer as a citizen for my parents’ choice of moving to a better life in America?”
Lynda McGee, a counselor at Downtown Magnets High School, noted that many students are facing similar dilemmas. “They have to choose between their future and that of their parents,” she said.
FAFSA submission has become a significant and stressful decision for students with undocumented parents, as the form must be submitted annually throughout their college years. Citing data from the Government Accountability Office, LAT reported that new FAFSA submissions dropped by 9% last year, possibly reflecting the concerns of students from mixed-status families.
Although the Department of Education, which oversees FAFSA, does not currently share applicants’ information with other federal agencies, immigration advocates worry that the incoming Trump administration could change that policy and use the data to target undocumented families.
Richard Myung, head of AGM College Planning, said, “Even if the Department of Education claims it does not share personal information, other federal agencies can access relevant data during background checks for citizenship or permanent residency. This inevitably exposes the information of both students and parents, and with Trump’s administration taking office soon, concerns are rising.”
On the other hand, some experts believe that applying for FAFSA may not directly lead to deportation. Mike Lee, a tax accountant who helps students with FAFSA, stated, “Parents without Social Security numbers have always been able to submit the form using ‘0000,’ and their children have received aid without issue. What matters is the student’s status, not the parents’.”
He added, “The financial aid goes to the student, not the parents, and even if parents are living in another country, such as Korea, the student can still qualify for aid.”
FAFSA is a critical form for students seeking federal financial aid for college. Colleges in California are encouraging students to submit their applications by the March 2 deadline.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
