Impact of Federal & Local Policy on Access to Education for Undocumented Students in Illinois

Author: Dea Talelli

Department: UIC Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement (IPCE)

Advisor: Dr. Joseph K. Hoereth, IPCE

Abstract: Undocumented youth in the U. S. historically encounter barriers that preclude them from highereducation opportunities. This research focuses on how Illinois state attempts to mitigate thesebarriers through different policies. A policy analysis of the DREAM Act (2011) and the RISEAct (2019) answers the question whether these policies are enough to overcome the harsh federally imposed conditions on this demographic of students. The research comprises evaluating federal statutes, state legislations, court decisions, and academic literature. The analysis involves enrollment and scholarship data to determine the impact of the state initiatives on students. Although the scope for this research focuses on the policies of the state of Illinois and their impact on federal immigration policies, application of this research findings may be broadly applied. The results indicate that although state policies grant some access to in- state tuition and scholarships, there are still major structural and social obstacles. More than 408,000 undocumented students in the U.S. suffer from great anxiety caused by a couple different factors. Immigration enforcement, unstable family situations, and limited campus support can be highlighted as a few factors which can be linked to this demographic having lower college completion rates than their peers (Presidents Alliance, 2024; Abrahamson et al. , 2019). Thisproject advocates for the development of policies which are more aware of the multifacetedreality of the lives of undocumented students. A key policy recommendation is for Illinois topass legislation that guarantees protection from immigration enforcement for undocumentedstudents while they are actively enrolled in degree programs. This policy would provide stability and continuity for students, allowing them to focus on their academic progress. By formalizing these protections at the state level, Illinois can further reduce barriers to completion and promote educational equity.

Keywords: undocumented students, higher education access, DREAM Act (2011), RISE Act(2019), immigration enforcement, degree completion

View Dea's Presentation Poster