Op-Ed

Opposing Financial Aid for Undocumented Students is Short-Sighted

Eight states have approved financial aid for these students. Why not New Jersey?

By

Published on Jul 22, 2016 in Economic Justice

This appeared as a letter to the editor in the July 22, 2016 edition of the Bergen Record.

The Record’s editorial opposing extending student financial aid to undocumented New Jersey high school graduates was surprising and disappointing.

First, while it true that Gov. Christie conditionally vetoed this provision in 2013, that does not mean that the Legislature and advocates should accept his action or that he is incapable of changing his mind. NJPP is not in the business of supporting only public issues that are political slam dunks, such as joint resolutions to make Monarch butterflies the state butterfly – and the Record shouldn’t be either.

Second, children who accompany their undocumented parents to New Jersey do so without a choice. They are innocents. Fortunately, public schools are not permitted by federal law to check immigration status, so immigrant children are eligible for a P-12 education. We should then turn around and punish these children by denying them the chance to compete for state financial aid and have a fighting chance for a college education. Closing the most effective door to give these innocent neighbors the opportunity to be well-educated and make a contribution to their home state is short-sighted, harmful to New Jersey’s economic future and a waste of the significant taxpayer investment that has already been made in these striving students through public education

Just because federal law and regulation denies them access to Pell Grants and federal loans is no reason that New Jersey should do the same. Eight other states have approved financial aid for their undocumented high school graduates. Why not New Jersey?

Author

  • Gordon MacInnes, Senior Distinguished Fellow, served as the President of NJPP from 2012 to 2018, leading the organization’s efforts to advance economic justice and shared prosperity in the Garden State. Having stepped down as NJPP's chief executive at the end of 2018, Gordon remains with the organization as a Senior Distinguished Fellow to continue researching New Jersey's early education system.

    Gordon’s research interests include: state finances, sound investments in economic assets, education and immigration.

    Before joining NJPP in April 2012, Gordon had a long track record of success in New Jersey’s worlds of policy, nonprofits and politics. He has served in both the Assembly and the Senate; led New Jersey Network, the Fund for New Jersey and Citizens for Better Schools; and served as assistant education commissioner from 2002 to 2007. He was a long-time fellow at The Century Foundation.

    Gordon, a graduate of Occidental College and of the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University, is also a trustee of Occidental College and a former member of the Rutgers Board of Governors.

    Email: gordon (at) njpp.org | Phone: 609-393-1145 ext. 18


    Follow Gordon on Twitter
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