The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided $14 billion in economic relief to college students across the country, but according to U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, undocumented students won’t see a cent.
DeVos finalized a decision via emergency rule on June 11 that bars undocumented students, including DACA and foreign students, from receiving any form of economic stimulus from the CARES Act. According to DeVos, “The CARES Act makes clear that this taxpayer-funded relief fund should be targeted to U.S. citizens,” though Congress made no such statement.
The ruling excludes 450,000 undocumented students in the higher education system, including nearly 2,500 UC Santa Barbara and SBCC students.