(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) According to a recently published study from the American Immigration Council, illegal immigrants make up nearly 2% of America’s universities, totaling over 400,000 students,
The vast majority of these students are products of former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, otherwise known as DACA, Just the News reported.
The students, many of whom are called “Dreamers,” have by now spent most of their lives in America. The influx has mostly been from families of first generation immigrants, largely of Hispanic descent.
Undocumented students “represent a heterogeneous population in higher education, reflecting the broad range and overall diversity of first-generation immigrants in the United States.”
Nearly half–46%–of the illegal students call themselves Hispanic. Asians and Pacific Islanders make another 27%, and approximately 14% are black.
Further, the majority of the illegal students in higher education are concentrated in just a handful of states, including California, Texas, Florida and New York.
Public schools are particularly prioritizing the promotion of illegal students, which should of course be disturbing to the American people. Over three-quarters of the illegal immigrant students attend two- or four-year public universities.
Even more, a full 14% are pursuing postgraduate degrees, including M.A.s and PhDs while illegally in the country.
Though the number of total illegal immigrants receiving education at American colleges remains a striking 408,000, the number has actually declined from an all-time high in 2019.
Per the report, however, the numbers have decreased from 2019’s 427,000 illegal students due to overall decline in college enrollment, among other factors.
“The drop,” according to the report, “likely reflects overall enrollment decline due to the pandemic and economic pressures, as well as factors that specifically impact undocumented individuals, such as the continued legal challenges to DACA.”
