August 14, 2024

Dear Presidents’ Alliance Member,

In this week’s Member Update:

• Watch the Recording of Our Webinar on Supporting Mixed-Status Families in FAFSA Completion
• NEW: Read Our Report on Black Immigrant College Graduates 
• Sign-On Opportunity: Comment Letter Supporting the Expansion of Federal TRIO Programs to Undocumented Students
• Become a U.S. for Success Commitment Partner!
• Campus Engagement with Refugees: Why and How?
• Immigration in Brief
• Calendar of Events
• Top Reads

Watch the Recording of Our Webinar on Supporting Mixed-Status Families in FAFSA



Yesterday, the Presidents’ Alliance hosted a webinar addressing the unique challenges mixed-status immigrant families faced this year in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This session provided key insights and best practices for counselors and financial aid professionals supporting these families.

If you missed the webinar, you can watch the webinar recording below!

For resources shared during the webinar and to learn more about how you can effectively assist mixed-status immigrant families, check out the new FAFSA Hub on the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.

NEW: Read Our Report on Black Immigrant College Graduates

Read our latest report with the Immigration Research Initiative, Black Immigrant College Graduates: Where they live and where they work. The report focuses on first-generation Black immigrants and their contributions to the workforce. Dr. Felecia Russell, Director of the Portal, co-authored the report.

Sign-On Opportunity: Supporting the Expansion of Federal TRIO Programs to Undocumented Students

On July 24th, the Department of Education released a proposed regulation to expand eligibility for certain federal TRIO programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Educational Opportunity Centers) to undocumented students. Comments are due by August 23, 2024 (see here).



TRIO programs provide critical resources and services to students facing significant barriers to higher education, including first-generation and low income students. The Presidents’ Alliance and partners are coordinating a higher-ed focused comment letter in support of this expansion.

Deadline to sign onto the collective comment letter is August 21st.

Become an HEI Commitment Partner of U.S. for Success



The Presidents’ Alliance is a co- founder of the U.S. for Success coalition, which aims to increase and diversify international student enrollment at colleges and universities across the U.S.,support these students’ success on campus, and career and immigration pathways post graduation. Higher education institutions have the opportunity to show support for the Coalition by signing the commitment partner pledge. In joining as a signatory, institutions express their commitment to supporting policies, initiatives, and actions that attract a diverse pool of international students to the U.S. and that promote their success on campus and after graduation.

Campus Engagement with Refugees: Why and How?

Join the Supporting Higher Education in Refugee Resettlement (SHERR) Program on September 18th at 1 pm ET for a webinar that will provide an overview of the benefits to campuses of engagement with refugee resettlement and the types of engagement pathways available to institutions. Attendees will gain a better understanding and practical tips for how supporting refugee students, families, and resettlement can advance the mission of higher education institutions while providing urgent support and opportunities for refugees – both students and non-students.

Immigration in Brief

• USCIS released a new fact sheet showing increases in petitions for O-1A and EB-2 visas as well as for national interest waivers (NIWs) following the updated guidance that the Administration released in 2022 to clarify how individuals in STEM fields can demonstrate their eligibility. See the Legal Pathways that Work resource hub to see how colleges and universities can support their students and alumni.
• On August 2nd, 2024, New Hampshire’s H.B.1127 was signed into law. The new law invalidates out-of-state driver's licenses issued to undocumented immigrants.

Calendar of Events

• September 18, 2024 | Campus Engagement with Refugees: Why and How? | Register Here

Top Reads

• Financial aid applications from undocumented California students plunged this year by Julia Barajas (LAist)
• Olympic success for international student athletes by Nicholas Cuthbert (The PIE News)
• How the New Vermonter Education Program helps refugees by Connor Ullathorne (WCAX)
• Immigrants Are Becoming U.S. Citizens at Fastest Clip in Years by Miriam Jordan (NYT)
• For increasing number of immigrants, a 'new life in America' starts in South Dakota by Mariia Novoselia (South Dakota News Watch)
• Work Authorization for Undocumented Immigrants Would Improve Tax Collections, Analysts Say by Tim Shaw (Thomson Reuters)

Thank you for your support and engagement.

The Presidents’ Alliance Team