WSU provides 'emergency' funding to illegal immigrant students in response to bailout exclusion
WSU is partnerning with a self-proclaimed student "activist" organization to help put more money in the hands of illegal immigrants.
The effort comes as colleges and leftist groups have made known their opposition to illegal immigrants' ineligibiity for CARES Act funding.
Washington State University has teamed up with a student activist group to help provide money to illegal students in light of them not being able to receive federal bailout money as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Washington State University’s Undocumented Initiatives Office and the Crimson Group put together three new funds for illegal immigrant students. The new funding was announced only shortly after schools began receiving funds from the federal relief package. WSU’s Undocumented Initiatives lists the names of the funds, including the renewing DACA fund and emergency assistance fund.
WSU’s Undocumented Initiatives Office offers illegal immigrant students the opportunity to receive funding, resources, and services to assist with DACA renewal, health resources, unemployment resources, legal advice, and dozens of other forms of assistance throughout Washington State.
[RELATED: Georgetown official: Illegal immigrants are ‘freedom fighters’]
The Crimson Group is an organization that describes itself as “an activist and support group for undocumented students and allies at Washington State University Pullman and the Palouse community.”
“The money is coming from taxpayers to begin with and undocumented immigrants contribute to taxes, it would only be fair that they get help as well,” Undocumented Initiatives Ambassador and DACA recipient Linda Vargas said, expressing concern that illegal immigrant students are not eligible to receive funding from the federal coronavirus relief package.
Vargas also stated that because illegal immigrant students are in Washington State they are deserving of funding because “...they are risking their lives for this country and its citizens.”
Previously, illegal immigrant students were not able to apply to multiple funds and had to choose between either applying for DACA renewal or an emergency fund, according to Crimson Group co-chair and WSU junior Raul Jimenez.
[RELATED: Betsy DeVos tells colleges not to give coronavirus aid to illegal immigrants]
Because of the coronavirus situation, they are now allowed to apply for both. A post on the page also links to an application link to receive up to $250 in emergency assistance, noting that those applying will also be able to apply for DACA renewal funds.
Center for Immigration Studies Fellow David North told Campus Reform, “our government money (or taxpayer’s money) should not be used to people whose very presence in the U.S. is illegal.”
“If they want assistance to buy a one-way ticket to their home country, that should be granted and swiftly, otherwise no,” North added.
Washington State University did not respond to Campus Reform in time for publication when asked if any taxpayer funds are being provided to illegal immigrants from these specific programs at Washington State University.
However, public taxpayer dollars in Washington State are available to illegal immigrant students through a state aid program called the Washington Application for State Financial Aid, which WSU describes as a program that enables illegal immigrant students “to be considered for the Washington College Grant and for aid awarded by WSU.”
Campus Reform recently reported on how the University of Washington encouraged illegal immigrant students to apply for WASFA assistance in light of the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the federal relief package as passed by Congress does not make illegal immigrant students eligible for the funding.
Although WASFA is not federal money, Heritage Foundation senior adviser Mike Howell pointed out to Campus Reform, “it’s all fungible money, so every dollar that goes to an illegal alien is a dollar that a US citizen is not getting.”
Given this analysis, Campus Reform also asked WSU whether it is also actively raising money- whether public or private - for students who are American citizens or legal residents to help them weather the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent economic crisis. No response was received in time for publication.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @Jess_Custodio
