According to the California Student Aid Commission, In 2021-22, only 29 to 30 percent of undocumented students who applied for financial aid ultimately enrolled in school. And only 14 percent of undocumented students in California receive state aid.
Financial aid is one of the many areas where the immigrant population faces struggles. Campus resources allow students to connect to each other and advocate for their futures.
California has long been a leader in advancing policies that help ensure the dream of a college education remains accessible and affordable to all students.
Many undocumented students are facing a serious amount of fear, uncertainty and personal problems outside of just education.
“Honestly, navigating financial aid as an undocumented student, especially as an asylum seeker, has been one of the hardest parts of my college experience. I don’t qualify for FAFSA or any federal aid because I’m not a citizen, but I also don’t meet the requirements for the California Dream Act, which leaves me with very little institutional support. There was a moment where my tuition became a serious issue, and I had to go through a long, exhausting process with the administration to figure it out,” said Collegian Editor-In-Chief Andrea Baltodano.
For Baltodano, she has had people advocating for her and helping push things forward until she comes up with a solution that allows her not to worry about money and to stay here in the United States.
Undocumented students pursuing a college education have lower incomes and would otherwise be eligible for financial aid.
On Nov. 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump’s administration sued California to end state benefits such as financial aid and in-state tuition that help support undocumented students.
This affects the Dreamers’ success Center here at Delta highly because they’re trying to take away the AB 540 policy and then SB 554 , while actively trying to stop diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Despite a struggle that undocumented students have to get to a four-year college and further their education, there are multiple services that the community has to offer, such as Immigrant Rising, United We Dream, El Concilio and many more that can offer help to them.
“My feelings is that it’s completely unfortunate that the immigrants that built this country is being treated in such a fashion that there are no direct pathways for citizenship. It is easy to say do it the right way, but there’s not a right way; there is no pathway for our undocumented population to get legal here in America,” said Student Services Program Support Coordinator Tina Leal.
Tina’s job at Delta consists of a few different things: she helps students navigate college life as a resource specialist at the Dreamers Success Center, supports undocumented students and their families, and coordinates services that provide access to free legal advice and many support resources.
That job also includes helping students advocate for themselves.
On Wednesday, April 15 Leal was part of a group from Delta College that participated in the Immigrant Day of Action advocacy event in Sacramento. Leal said it was about “empowering our students to use their voices.”
“They were so inspired,” said Leal.
“They made me so proud asking questions engaged.”
