Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Thursday rescinded former President Bill Clinton’s policy that allowed taxpayer money to subsidize illegal immigrants seeking career, technical, and adult education grants.
McMahon made the change to prioritize U.S. citizens for federal postsecondary education programs.
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“Under President Trump’s leadership, hardworking American taxpayers will no longer foot the bill for illegal aliens to participate in our career, technical, or adult education programs or activities,” McMahon said in a statement. “The Department will ensure that taxpayer funds are reserved for citizens and individuals who have entered our country through legal means who meet federal eligibility criteria.”
The nearly 30-year-old policy allowed non-qualified illegal immigrants to access federal public benefits in violation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, which restricted the eligibility of non-citizens for federal public benefits. Under the 1996 law, federal public benefits are limited to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and certain “qualified aliens.”
The policy was instituted in 1997 after Clinton issued a Dear Colleague letter to exempt career, technical, and adult education programs from PRWORA. That letter has now been rescinded.
The Department of Education also restricts illegal immigrants from accessing Pell grants, student loans, or other postsecondary education programs authorized under the Higher Education Act.
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES INTEREST PAYMENTS FOR SAVE STUDENT LOANS TO RESUME IN AUGUST
The department’s newly announced interpretive rule was published in the Federal Register on Thursday.
The action follows President Donald Trump’s executive order that restricts access to taxpayer-funded benefits for those residing in the United States illegally and limits the benefits to eligible individuals.