The growth of Latine students enrolled in American colleges has been significant, making Latines an estimated 18% of undergraduates in college, undoubtedly changing representation on college campuses. As a result, organizations like the Hispanic Scholarship Fund have empowered Hispanic students with knowledge and resources to excel and complete their higher education. The organization is known for providing students with scholarships and networking opportunities with their alumni. HSF emphasizes the priority for completing higher education. However, this priority excludes undocumented Hispanics. 

Despite the increase of Latine students on college campuses, foreign-born Latines are less likely than Latines born in the United States to graduate. Undocumented immigrants have historically been blocked from higher education in the U.S. and have continued to be blocked from various educational opportunities — such as the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, which requires citizenship or other forms of documented residency from its applicants. 

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Considering that undocumented immigrants are less likely to graduate from college than U.S. citizens, one would expect potential resources to address this barrier to meet undocumented students’ needs. However, the intersectionality of immigration and ethnic background often gets ignored. Despite high achievement in high school, undocumented university students are faced with gaps in financial, mental and institutional support which is linked to their legal status. Therefore, graduating is not a guarantee. 

The HSF advertises education as their top priority despite excluding the nearly 408,000 undocumented university students, 46% of which are of Hispanic heritage. Undocumented immigrants constantly face barriers to complete their higher education studies; in comparison to their documented Latine peers, they have to worry about deportation and the changing legality of immigration benefit programs. The back-and-forth with immigration benefit programs is important; the legality of immigration policy impacts undocumented students. Due to the inequities in U.S. immigration laws, undocumented Latines and documented Latines navigate college differently. 

The program receives federal funding, and due to undocumented immigrants being excluded from public financial aid because of their immigration status, they cannot participate in this program. As long as the program continues to receive federal funding, there is not a viable measure to expand the program to undocumented students. The program currently accepts Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients; however, DACA has paused its application cycle for new applicants, as it was ruled illegal by the Fifth Circuit Court in 2022. This means that the HSF will not see a rise in DACA recipients applying, as applications for the program are closed until further notice. DACA has been in limbo for years — programs must provide for undocumented students because the outcome of DACA rulings is still unknown.

As undocumented students are excluded from public benefits, they become dependent on merit-based financial aid, and exclusion from public financial aid harms the community’s sense of public belonging and national inclusion. HSF’s social security requirement also adds onto the harm of the sense of belonging for undocumented Hispanics. 

As long as the HSF continues to accept federal funding — instead of becoming a private program to be accessible to more students — they will continue to harm the sense of belonging for undocumented students, as it sets the tone for who is welcomed and excluded when it comes to receiving their scholarships. Foreign-born Latines should not be excluded simply because they are not citizens. 

Let’s not forget, Hispanics being in America is because of immigration; without the steps taken by immigrants, Hispanics would not be living in America. Without it, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund would not be available, as the organization itself is a product of immigration. Organizations need to recognize that choosing to accept federal funding excludes many Hispanic immigrants. 

While the HSF is accessible to DACA students, known as DREAMers, the parents of HSF scholars are the ones who were dreaming, too. The exclusion of undocumented Hispanics to the fund sets a xenophobic narrative, as the program would rather receive federal funding than become a private program that expands to all scholars — no matter their immigration status. It is time for programs to meet the needs of undocumented students, as they are on college campuses and would benefit from their resources. 

Undocumented students are present at USC and very much carry the same level of excellence, passion and determination as their documented peers. HSF’s exclusion of undocumented scholars ultimately contradicts their emphasis on empowering students and their parents with the knowledge and resources to complete higher education. 

Heydy Vasquez is a sophomore writing about the lack of support for undocumented students on college campuses. Her column, “Undocu-Tales,” runs every other Wednesday.