President Donald Trump's second term has brought with it a series of policies that could have significant repercussions for the latin community, especially for students aspiring to access higher education.
These policies include measures that affect the university climate, scholarship opportunities and access to support services, all within a context of growing uncertainty about the future. immigrant rights.
New ICE guidelines for universities and schools
One day after Donald Trump's second inauguration, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Benjamine Huffman, issued two directives giving the government permission to expand the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This marks the new Administration's broader plan to conduct the "largest deportation in history." This change repealed an order that prohibited immigration agents from conducting raids in schools, hospitals, churches and other similar places.
Edgar Palacios, president and CEO of the Latinx Education Collaborative, said it's not easy to learn in that environment and it hurts young people's ability to participate in schools.
"It limits opportunities and it limits thinking. It can create limitations on the advantages of our community and how we engage with economic prosperity," he told Enlace Latino NC .
Do you need to ask for help from the Mexican consulate in North Carolina? Find out how you can do it through ConsulApp Contigo , the new consular tool available for Mexican migrants in the U.S.
Elimination of DEI in federal agencies
Another notable action was the dismantling or defunding of several Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) related programs who had previously supported the advancement of underrepresented communities.
These initiatives were designed to promote diversity in higher education, workplaces, and federal agencies. For many, latin students, have become a critical issue, as they directly benefit from these inclusion policies.
“I think it’s a continuation of making college inaccessible to students,” Palacios said.
Furthermore, the rollback of DEI initiatives has a broader effect on the representation of underrepresented communities within the education sector.
“Part of our job is to think about how we can increase the number of Latino or Hispanic educators because it is essential to the way we disseminate information. It is incredibly important to build trust among our people and it will be helpful to overcome some of these barriers,” she added.
When these programs are eliminated or minimized, the underrepresentation of these groups in leadership and academic development is further perpetuated, Palacios explained.
You may be interested>> Dates of the free "Know Your Rights" workshops for immigrants during the month of February 2025
Impact of the freezing of funds
Trump caused turmoil within federal aid programs after signing an executive order that froze nearly all federal grants and loans.
Many wondered if this included the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the leading source of student financial aid in the U.S.
Although the measure was finally blocked by a federal judge, and the Department of Education confirmed that federal student loans and Pell grants were not affected, the uncertainty created by the funding freeze had a real impact on the Latino community.
If this freeze were extended, it could severely impact Latino students, a demographic group that relies heavily on financial aid to continue their higher education.
Delays in the distribution of the FAFSA for the 2024-2025 academic year had already caused great anxiety in the Latino community. Originally scheduled to open on October 1, the application was delayed until December 31, reducing the time students had to submit their applications before crucial deadlines.
Additionally, many Latino families, especially those with mixed immigration statuses or complex financial situations, face difficulties navigating the aid system.
“There is very little guidance and support on how to access the forms, how to fill them out and how to interpret some of the questions,” Edgar said.
Although the funding freeze did not materialize, the delays raised concerns among Latino students, who already face additional difficulties in higher education.
What would be the implications of closing the Department of Education?
The new administration has proposed eliminating the Department of Education and “returning” education rights to the states.
If implemented, this measure could weaken federal protections and resources currently offered by the Department of Education. Latino community advocates warn that this restructuring could force families to navigate more complicated systems to access college financial aid.
Ivan Ramirez, Director of Community Participation of Latinx Education Collaborative, he told Enlace Latino NC their concern for underrepresented communities.
"At the federal level, eliminating the Department of Education could pave the way for more inequalities," Ramirez said.
The Department of Education, through the "Pell Grant" program, distributes around 30 billion dollars annually to low-income college students, according to official data.
Local relevance in the face of federal policies
Although Palacios considers the total elimination of the Department of Education unlikely, he warned that we must pay attention to the possible effects at the local level. He even added that local funding of the “Pell Grants” could be compromised, among other local changes.
“From a professional and local perspective, I think politics is local, and it is the local narrative that tends to have more influence on whether our children are successful or not,” Palacios said.
“Our young people, our parents and families we serve, their experiences in schools, their interactions with policymakers and government officials – all of that determines whether a school will receive the resources it needs to succeed.”
Republish our stories for free on your website or newspaper. We follow the Creative Commons license. Click the box and follow the instructions.
