There is no guarantee that the immigration status of families is secure and protected for those who file for federal financial aid, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), according to Mikki Johnson, the director of financial aid and scholarships at Fresno City College.

Scholarship application information is protected and handled internally at FCC, so there is no risk for undocumented families when applying for scholarships. And while Johnson is not aware of any instances where the Department of Education has used financial aid information to search for undocumented families and parents, she admitted that it could be a risk.

“We can’t guarantee that by filling out the FAFSA that the [federal] administration won’t be able to retrieve this information, because the Department of Education wouldn’t guarantee that this data would be protected,” Johnson said. “They [applicants] really can’t opt out of anything when they’re filling out the application, but they can opt out of just doing the application in general.”

All state-level aid however, has protections in place for undocumented families. The California Dream Act and Cal Grant Programs are housed under the California Student Aid Commission, which protects the private information of undocumented families under Senate Bill No. 54 and Cal. Gov. Code Section 7284.8(a). According to the official California Student Aid Commission website, “Your information is never shared with the federal government or used for immigration enforcement.”

The California Dream Act provides state-level financial aid to eligible undocumented students. It allows students whose parents do not have legal immigration status to access grants and other funding opportunities to help pay for college.

The Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) also offer financial services to undocumented students.

For many, the benefits of federal financial aid outweigh the risks. According to Johnson, the maximum amount of aid awarded to any one student through FAFSA is over $7,000. In the 2024-25 school year, approximately $58 million was awarded through federal Pell Grant funds. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and federal work study programs together generated $3 million for students. 

Padilla, a homestay mom and mother of a student at Fresno State, described her experience with FAFSA as challenging but necessary. She chose to only be identified by her last name.

“Right now, I’m mostly at home, helping my child with school. When we first started, we didn’t know much about the program,” Padilla said.

She added that getting additional guidance and support from other parents was crucial. 

“I asked for information for parents, especially for those who are undocumented. It helped us understand the process, though sometimes it was overwhelming,” she explained.

Padilla highlighted the importance of the Dream Act, but admitted that it didn’t offer all the aid required for most. 

“It provides grants and financial aid for students whose parents are undocumented immigrants. It’s helpful, but it doesn’t cover everything,” she said.

Carlos Ramirez, a construction worker and father of a college-bound student, shared a similar perspective.

“At first, it was confusing. I didn’t know much about how to apply or what programs were available,” Ramirez said.

He noted that school counselors talk to other parents to make the process easier. 

“The Dream Act programs gave my child access to grants that we otherwise wouldn’t have,” Ramirez said.

Both parents agreed that, despite the stress, these programs are invaluable.

“It’s stressful at times, but it’s worth it,” Ramirez said.

A television on the top floor of the student services building outside of the Fresno City College financial aid office reads “So get those FAFSA Applications in ASAP!!” on Nov. 21. (Photo by: Logan Payne)